Bible Reading: 1 Sam. 27, 28 & 29. Luke 13:1-18.
“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” – Luke 13:3 (KJV)
Corruption has become the bane of our society. It is sad, however, that several years ago most societies were not this corrupt. The question is why have a number of people got corrupted more over time? Some often say poverty leads to corruption but various analysis have shown that it is the reverse; that corruption actually leads to poverty!
What is corruption? Corruption has been defined in different ways but Transparency International defines it as abuse of entrusted power for personal gain. This can happen in different ways, though we often limit the use of corruption to the way money is used relative to the purpose intended. But this is a myopic view. A man or woman who declares wrong assets, income or expenditure in order to gain a tax advantage is corrupt. A farmer or trader who mutilates the measuring tool in order to give less to the buyer is corrupt. Also an employee who gets to the office and writes a different time on the attendance sheet is corrupt. Just like the employee that uses his employer’s time for personal errands or issues is corrupt!
Corruption strikes at the root of everything we do once we engage in it. And it usually leads to greater offences. Most people aid corruption in one way or the other but turn to blame others for their corrupt practices. Someone gave analysis of how Holland is a country of least corruption. He said, he went to visit a resident there and they jointly went to buy milk. When they got there, the man just turned the tap to get the quantity he wanted and he brought out his money to pay for it. This he dropped in a jar consisting of money already paid by those who had bought the same milk earlier. There, nobody tried to cheat the other. That is the type of world that God expects us to live in and not the one corrupted by sin as was in the days of Noah. In Genesis 6:12 (KJV), “And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.”
Now it is important for us to examine how we contribute to the corruption of the world and identify ways of eliminating them. The word of God is quite clear on this and every sin. Every corruption is as a result of sin because everything that God made was very good. (Gen 1:31). Hence Lord Jesus said Luke 13:3 (KJV), “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
Action Plan: Look for areas where you are corrupt or aid corruption and ensure you take steps to end it urgently.
Bro. Joel Ezeugo