What Are the Causes of Corruption

Why do people choose to be corrupt rather than honest?  For some, being corrupt may be the easiest way-or indeed the only way-to get what they want.  At times, a bribe may provide a convenient means of avoiding punishment.  Many who observe that politicians,policemen and judges seem to ignore corruption or even practice it themselves merely follow their example.

As corruption snowballs, it becomes more acceptable  until it is finally a way of life.  People with pitifully  low wages come to feel that they have no option.  They have to demand bribes if they want to make a decent living.  And when those who extort bribes or pay them to gain an unfair advantage go unpunished, few are prepared to swim against the tide.  "Because sentence against a bad work has not be executed  speedily, that is why the heart of the sons of men has become fully set in them to do bad,"  observed King Solomon. -Ecclesiastes 8:11.

Two powerful forces keep stoking the fires of corruption, selfishness and greed.  Because of selfishness, corrupt people turn a blind eye to the suffering that their corruption inflicts on others, and they justify bribery simply because they benefit from it.  The more material benefits  they amass, the greedier those practices of corruption become. "A mere lover of silver will not be satisfied with silver,"  observed Solomon, "neither any lover of wealth with income." (Ecclesiastes 5:10)  Granted, greed may be good for making money, but it invariably winks at corruption and illegality.

Another factor that should not be overlooked is the role of the invisible ruler of this world, whom the Bible identifies as Satan the Devil.  (1 john 5:19;Revelation 12:9) Satan actively promotes corruption.  The biggest bribe on record was the one Satan offered to Christ.  'I will give you all the kingdoms of the world if you fall down and do an act of worship to me.' -Matthew 4:8, 9.

Jesus, however, was incorruptible, and he taught his followers to behave in a similar way.  Could Christ's teachings be an effective tool for fighting corruption today? The following article will analyze this question.

Next time: Fighting Corruption With the Sword of the Spirit

The Watchtower, 2000