December 4 | Standing Against Political Corruption
Micah 3:9-12, “9 Hear this, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of Israel, who despise justice and distort all that is right; 10 who build Zion with bloodshed, and Jerusalem with wickedness. 11 Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. 12 Therefore because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets.”
God is a good God that stands for truth, justice, righteousness and charity (Isaiah 58:6-10). The Lord has always stood against the corruption and sinful ways of men in power. All throughout the Bible God has judged and brought down nations that rebelled against Him. God judged the Egyptians because of Pharaoh’s pride (Exodus 11-12), He allowed Babylon to be conquered by the Assyrians (Isaiah 13:9), and He even sent the leaders of Judah and Israel into captivity when they refused to obey Him (Micah 3:9-12).
Daniel said in Daniel 2:21, “He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others.” Sometimes it may seem like the corrupt leaders in power will never be stopped, but eventually they all come down. God may even use wicked leaders in their corruption to serve a good purpose (like using Babylon to punish Judah); however he will still hold them accountable for their evil (Jeremiah 50:18).
Sadly, in the U.S. we see governmental leaders arrested all the time for bribery, lying and breaking the laws of the land. Sometimes corruption comes in the form of overlooking crime in a certain area because the criminals pay off the local officials. Other times it can be seen when lobbyists pay leaders to vote a certain way to pass a bill. Or corrupt leaders will take money to do illegal favors.
Ordinary citizens like you and me may not be able to always know what our government leaders and local judges are doing, but God does. We must pray for our officials to live righteous lives and ask God to expose any corruption (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
As disciples of Christ, we must encourage our fellow citizens to vote for leaders based on their character and policies, not just their campaign promises. And we must hold our leaders to the standard of God’s moral law!
Here are three things you can do to stand against political corruption; first, vote for leaders that hold to godly values and morals. Second, promote integrity in your everyday life so it becomes the normal behavior in your community. Third, pray for God to remove corrupt leaders and to rise up good ones that are God-fearing. King Solomon wrote in Proverbs 29:2, “When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.”
Reflection
Do you believe God can remove corruption from your nation’s government?
Action
- Clearly explain from the Bible why political corruption is a sin.
- Pray for God to rise up good leaders and bring down the corrupt ones. Howard Crosby said, “To let politics become a cesspool, and then avoid it because it is a cesspool, is a double crime.”
- Resources: “God & Government,” by Charles Colson & “Politics According to the Bible,” by Dr. Wayne Grudem.
One Year Reading Plan
Daniel 11:36-12:13, 1 John 4:1-21, Psalm 123:1-4, & Proverbs 29:2-4. Click here to read online.