The Cancer of Corruption

Philstar.com posted this question in facebook -  INBOX QUESTION: What can you say about alleged massive corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines?

What can I say?  So what else is new?  It’s come to the point that I am not surprised when corruption like this is exposed on television.  Sadly, I think all these Senate interviews, and exposes of corruption in the government are just hyped up “Tele novelas” just to excite people to watch or read the news.  Everyone knows that corruption exists in government.  We shouldn’t be surprised anymore that we find a Cabinet secretary, or head of a government agency is involved in corruption.  It’s come to a point where anyone who is assigned a position in government is immediately suspected of corruption.

But let’s go deeper.  If we think that it’s just our government leaders, heads and employees who are corrupt – well, we need to think again.  It’s not just the Generals in the AFP who are transferring funds for their personal gains.  Just ask the sales rep who deals with the Purchasing division of a company if there are purchasing officers who ask for a cut in the purchase.  Or ask a patient who buys medicine from a Doctor who sells free samples of medicines given to him.  Or ask a customer who had his electronic gadget fixed and was asked to pay for a part replaced but was never really broken in the first place.  It’s all around.

We don’t even have to point fingers at others.  Just check our own hearts.  How many of us are willing to shed a few pesos just to get out of a fix – caught by an enforcer for not wearing seatbelts, or to get things done more quickly at the city hall.  How many of us will not obey traffic lights or signs because we’re in a hurry.  I remember how I used to ask for lunch receipts from friends so that I could claim them as expenses from my office (and I worked with my father in his business!  I was basically stealing from him).  We justify corruption by claiming or believing we deserve them, that it is rightfully ours.  That’s probably what those generals and government officials are saying - “we’re not being paid enough, so we might as well get what we can”.  Ouch.

Corruption is all around, deeply embedded in our hearts.

Jesus simply called it sin. 

John 8:34 (NIV) Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.

We are slaves to sin.  We’re bound to it.  We can’t help but do it.  But I know, for some of us, there comes a point when we want out.  We know we’re sinning, deep in corruption, tired of doing wrong.  Jesus also offered a solution for this.

John 8:36 (NIV)  36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

The way out of corruption is not a change of government, or Senate hearings, or an expose`, but a personal dealing in our hearts – allowing God to deal with our sin, cleansing us of sin, giving us the power to repent, and walk with God.  The Son, Jesus Christ, can set us free!  If we allow Him.

2 Peter 1:4 (NIV)
4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

It is possible.  All we have to do is heed the call of the Son of God to come to Him, believe in Him as the One who took your sin on the cross, paid for the penalty, and rose again from the dead.  He alone can set us free from sin.

Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Tune Up

Before my family and I left for our annual Christmas vacation in Manila, where my wife and I come from, my car needed a tune up.  It was already showing signs of a change of spark plugs and some cleaning here and there.  But I purposely postponed it because I wanted to have as much pocket money as I could in a place where every move you make has you reaching into your wallet and paying for something!  When we came back from our vacation I completely forgot that the car needed a tune up, and so when I drove it the day after we arrived to bring our kids to school I was so frustrated with how it was running!  So at the next opportunity I had I went to the shop and had it tuned up.  What a great feeling to be driving with a car with a well running engine.

Spiritually we all need a tune up.  There is always something that affects the running of our “spiritual engine” – our hearts.  The world we live in is full of distractions, temptations, trials and hardships that affect our hearts.  Sometimes we drive ourselves too hard on the wrong things – making money, building a family, working our behinds off – while we forget to take care of our relationship with God (prayer, reading His word, worship), and neglect our walk with Him, sometimes caught in compromise.

Many Christians forget that our “engine” is our heart, our spiritual life.  We have the tendency to take care of everything external, making sure we have everything we need.  But what really keeps us going, what really gives us life, is our hearts filled with the Holy Spirit’s life and power.

As this year begins, let’s bring ourselves to the One who can tune up our hearts.

Psalms 23:3 (NIV)
3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Acts 3:19 (NIV)
19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

Times of refreshing.  Yes, that’s what we need.  Make sure to get that “tune up” as you face this new year.

Psalms 139:23-24 (NIV)
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Promises for a Blessed New Year

I know we’re all praying for a Happy, Prosperous, Blessed New Year.  Let me share some promises of the Lord that are there for our taking – if we just follow what He wants us to be doing, how He wants us to be living.  The first ten verses of Proverbs 3 give us a “package” of blessings that are there for us, if we just obey.

Praying for long life?  Forget the pancit…

Proverbs 3:1-2 (NIV)
1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.

Praying for good relationships?  Oprah doesn’t have all the answers.

Proverbs 3:3-4 (NIV)
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

Praying for straight paths?  No sharp turns, no dips, no danger zones? No need for feng shui, Oro, Plata, Mata, etc.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Praying for good health and nourishment?

Proverbs 3:7-8 (NIV)
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

Praying for financial security and provisions?

Proverbs 3:9-10 (NIV)
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

In a nutshell:  walk with Him, trust in Him, love Him, honor Him.  Let the Lord take care of the rest of our lives.

A Blessed New Year to all!