Our Daily Bread
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July 27, 2011 — by Julie Ackerman Link
Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn
Read: Deuteronomy 10:12-22
Take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning. —Exodus 23:8
Bible in a year:
Psalms 43-45; Acts 27:27-44
Psalms 43-45; Acts 27:27-44
While traveling in a foreign country, my husband noticed
that the paved roads had deep indentations. When he asked about them,
our driver explained that they were caused by the tires of trucks
carrying illegal, overweight loads. When stopped by police, the drivers
paid bribes to avoid being fined. The truckers and police officers came
out ahead financially, but other drivers and taxpayers were left with an
unfair financial burden and the inconvenience of poor roads.
Not all bribery is overt; some is more subtle. And not all bribes are
financial. Flattery is a type of bribe that uses words as currency. If
we give people preferential treatment for saying something nice about
us, it’s similar to taking a bribe. To God, any kind of partiality is an
injustice. He even made justice a condition of remaining in the
Promised Land.
The Israelites were not to pervert justice or show
partiality (Deut. 16:19-20).
Bribery deprives others of justice, which is an offense against the
character of God, who is “God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God,
mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe” (10:17).
Thankfully, the Lord treats all of us alike, and He wants us to treat each other the same way.
It matters not what race or gender,
Rich or poor or great or small,
The God who made us is not partial;
He sent Christ to die for all. —D. De Haan
Rich or poor or great or small,
The God who made us is not partial;
He sent Christ to die for all. —D. De Haan
Bribery displays partiality; love displays justice.
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