The Bible Condemns Corruption

Why did Paul refuse to condone corruption? Because he wanted to do the will of God, "who treats none with partiality nor accepts a bribe." (Deuteronomy 10:17)  Moreover, Paul doubtless remembered the specific instruction found in the Law of Moses: "You must not be partial or accept a bribe, for the bribe blinds the eyes of wise ones and distorts the words of righteous ones.  (Deuteronomy  16:19)  King David likewise understood that Jehovah hates corruption, and he requested that God not count him among the sinners, "whose right hand is full of bribery." -Psalm 26:10.

Those who sincerely worship God have additional reasons for rejecting corruption. "By justice a king gives a country stability," wrote Solomon,"  But  one who is greedy for bribes tears it down." (Proverbs 29:4, New International Version) Justice - especially when practiced from the highest official down -  brings stability, whereas corruption impoverishes a country.  Interestingly, Newsweek pointed out: "In a system where everyone wants a piece of the corruption pie knows how to get it, economies can simply implode."

Even when economies do not collapse completely, lovers of justice feel frustrated when corruption flourishes unchecked.  (Psalm 73:3, 13)  Our Creator, the one who gave us our inherent desire for justice, is also wronged.  In the past, Jehovah has intervened to stamp out blatant corruption.  For example, he bluntly told the inhabitants  of Jerusalem why he would abandon them to his enemies.

Through his prophet Micah, God said:  "Hear, please, this, you head ones of the house of Jacob and you commanders of the house of Israel, the ones detesting justice and the ones who make even everything that is straight crooked.  Her own head ones judge merely for a bribe, and her own priests instruct just for a price, and he own prophets practice divination simply for money . . .Therefore on account of you men Zion will be plowed up as a mere field, and Jerusalem herself will become mere heaps of ruins."  Corruption had devastated society in Israel, just as it corroded Rome centuries later. True to God's  warning, about a century after Micah wrote those words, Jerusalem was destroyed and abandoned. -Micah 3:09, 11. 12.

No man or  nation, however, needs to be corrupt.  God encourages the wicked to leave their way of life and change their way of thinking.  (Isaiah 55:7)  He wants each and every one of us to replace greed with unselfishness and corruption with righteousness.  "He that is defrauding the lowly one has reproached his Maker, but the one showing favor to the poor one is glorifying Him," Jehovah reminds us. -Proverbs 14:31.

Next time: Successfully Fighting Corruption With Bible Truth

The Watchtower, 2000