UNDERSTANDING BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION AND HOW TO GET OUT OF IT

Bibery and corruption is a global issue and it seems to have been institutionalized in many organizations all over the world. In recent times, political leaders, national security agencies and tax collectors of nations are the most accused in connection with bribery and corruption. This has made the society to take their eyes off other individuals, organisations who secretly indulge in bribery and corruption.

Bribery and corruption has been in practice for more than two thousand (2000 BD) years ago before the death of Christ. This is true because the book of 1Samuel 8:1-3 reported that the two sons of Samuel, Joel and Abiah who were both judges, accepted bribe and perverted justice.

1Samuel 8:1-3

" And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. Now the name of his fristborn was Joel; and the name of second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba. And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after after lucre, and took bribes and perverted judgement"

In the book of Exodus 23:3, God spoke through Moses concerning his position on the act of bribery saying;

"Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe makes people blind to what is right and ruins the cause of those who are innocent"

Similarly, the mind of God was equally revealed in the book of Deutronomy 16:19 concerning accepting bribe saying; 

"They are not to be unjust or show partiality in their judgement; and they are not to accept bribes, for gifts blind the eyes even of wise and honest men, and cause them to give wrong decisions.

In the new testament, there was a case of a tax collector named Zacchaeus, who confessed before Jesus in the book of Luke 19:8 saying that he will pay back four times to anyone he has cheated while discharging his duties as a tax collector.

Luke 19:8

Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Listen, sir! I will give half my belongings to the poor, and if i have cheated anyone, i will pay back four times as much."

During the days of Zacchaeus, tax collectors indulged in cheating, bribery and corruption. Today, there are many Zacchaeus in positions of authority in our generation. They are currently addicted to bribery and corruption and majority of them are finding it very difficult to get themselves out of it just like Zacchaeus did.

However, the purpose of this message, is to enble us understand bribery and corruption and possible ways to get out of it. 

WHAT IS BRIBE

Bribe is anything given in exchange to influence your decision or as an inducement. Bribe is given in different forms which includes; money, material things, promises, seduction, sex etc.

MEANING OF BRIBERY

Bribery could mean the act of making illegal payments (called bribe) to people in position of authority, with the intention of influencing their decisions. The intention of bribe givers, is to change your mind from doing what is right, to breaking protocols, rules and regulation on their behalf. Another reasons why people indulge in bribery is because they want to pervert justice.

The act of bribery was globally initiated by satan who understood how weak man has come to be, after he succeded in luring man into loosing his ability to control self in the garden of Eden. Based on satan's knowledge of man's love for money and lust for material things, he decided to possess men with the spirit of bribery, with the aim of getting them to use money and material things to change the mind of their fellow men in positions of authority, to make decisions against the will of God in various organisations.

On the verge of one discharging his duties in his place of work, one should beware of gifts offered by clients. This is because some of these gifts may have futuristic demands attachment to them. It is a possiblity that the giver of such gifts may likely in the near future, make reference to those gifts, whenever he wants to use you as an instrument to pervet justice or break protocols for his selfish interest.

WHAT IS CORRUPTION

Corruption is the act of corrupting or of imparing integrity, virtues or moral principle. The state of being corrupted, loss of purity or integrity.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION

- Bribery is an attribute of corruption, because corruption gave birth to bribery.

- Bribery is an aspect of corruption.

- Bribery is a corrupt practice.

- Bribery cannot be committed without one being corrupt.

- Bribery is just one of the many corrupt practices.

- Corruption begets bribery.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION 

- Bribery can be counted while corruption cannot be counted.

- Bribery is an act, but corruption is like a lifestyle, a state of life or a way of life.

WHY DO PEOPLE BRIBE?

People give bribe because they want to;

- Influence your decision in their favour.

- Break protocols to.

- Violate rules, regulations and laws restricting or preventing them from having their way.

- Get you to look the other way while they commit crime. 

WHY DO PEOPLE ACCEPT BRIBE?

People accept bribe because they value material things and their relationship with the bribe giver more than justice. Love for money and material things are equally reasons why people accept bribes.

HOW DO PEOPLE BRIBE?

- Persuassion: Here people in position of authority are persuaded to accept bribes when they refuse the first offer. Through continous persuasion some workers have succumbed to accepting bribe. 

- Promise: In this case, when cash or material stuffs are not available, they make promises that will induce you into changing your mind.

- Satisfaction:

This strategy is commonly used by the female gender. Here they try to offer their body, to get what they want. Their aim is to satisfy the sexual needs of people in authority in exchange for what they want. This strategy is mostly used by some young ladies during job interviews.

THINGS USED FOR BRIBERY

They following could be used to bribe a person;

- Cash in envelopes.

- Plots of land.

- House.

- Cars.

- Sex/Seduction

- Promotion

- Juicy posting etc.

MEDIUM OF BRIBERY

Bribe can be offered via the following medium;

- Text message.

- Telephone calls (Audio/Video calls)

- Face to face conversation.

- Handshake.

- Online chatting.

- Envelopes.

- Agreed code

- Signs etc.

WHEN DO PEOPLE BRIBE?

- When they are desperate.

- When they want to pervert justice.

- When they want to break protocols, rules and regularions.

- When they want to cheat.

WHERE DO PEOPLE BRIBE?

- Beer parlour.

- Night clubs.

- Office enviroment.

- Bush/Forest.

- Uncompleted buildings.

- Church enviroment (to eliminate suspicion)

- On transit.

- Family house, etc.

HOW CAN I GET OUT OF BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION?

1. Be passionate and hungry for justice. If you are passionate and hungry for justice, it will be difficult for anyone to induce you with bribe.

2. Value justice more than material things. If you have higher value for justice than material things, it will be very difficult for anyone to influence your decsion with gift items.

3. Beware of the kind of gifts you accept. Some gifts have futuristic attachments or demands, as the giver may not want to disclose to you the reason why he is offering you a gift.

4. Do not accept gift items before discharging your duties, as it can make you go blind and baise your sense judgement.

5. Let your colleagues know about your stand against the practice of bribery.This will make them count you out, whenever they want to indulge in bribery and corrupt practices. However, do not go about telling them, but rather let them know anytime the try to get you involved. This should be done politely without judging them. Remember, judgement is for God. Although you may be sorrounded with colleagues who indulge in bribery and corruption, but do not be part of it. Always make effort to decline politely.

6. Do not bother when clients avoid your desk because of your stand against bribery. Do not worry about this, as clients who do not indulge in bribery like you will come to your table for your services. 

BIBLE REFERENCES ON BRIBERY

Proverb 17:23 

A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back To pervert the ways of justice.

2 Chron 19:7

Now therefore, let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take care and do it, for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, no partiality, nor taking of bribes.

Deut 27:25

‘Cursed is the one who takes a bribe to slay an innocent person.’ “And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’.

Written & Published by:

Bro. Aligwekwe Nnamdi