03.05.03 The 1st Practice for Avoiding Corruption
1. Be Spiritually Healthy
Giving Priority to God’s Word
Did you know that the power vested in God’s Word can keep a person from succumbing to corruption in whatever form? Actually, there is no corruption that the Word cannot effectively address; since God’s Word can never fail. Once mixed with faith, it always delivers on promises, in good time.
It all begins when you set God as the centre of your life, then devote quality time to studying His Word; reading and understanding what it says. You will thence find that this supernatural ‘Word’ will position you to get your needs and desires met without having to resort to corruption.
Spiritual health is about seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness as a priority rather than corruption, after which whatever that you need for life follows you (Matthew 6:33). That’s how a person discovers that while the Word is permanently solving your problems, not only are the rewards from corruption very temporary but they lead to death and destruction; and that one could lose his or her soul in the process (Mark 8:36).
By the way, giving God’s Word priority is not complicated. Since that Word is a cleaning agent (Ephesians 5:25-26), all you have to do is to just avail your mind for a thorough cleanse without being defensive; while taking any rebukes positively and repentantly. When you do that, the Word transforms you into the very glory and image that Jesus has. See what 2 Corinthians 3:18 says (AMPC): And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another;... And with such a transformation, where can corruption ever gain a foothold?
However, reading the Word, by itself, cannot stop you from succumbing to the vice. You must go an extra mile by conforming to that Word. The Word of God is the final authority; and what it says goes. So rather than being corruption-driven, strictly go by what the Word says… be obedient. In the Amplified Bible, Psalms 119:9 reads (AMPC): How shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed and keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to it]. As you read the Word, embrace it. Receive it as the truth about the real you. So, live it. Practice it. Be it.
Remember, you may not have your Bible with you all the time. So, when reading the Word, retain it… Pluck the Word off the written pages and store it in your heart. Memorize scripture. It is the ‘stored word’ that will restrain you from engaging in corruptive activities as it will pop up any time you are being lured into illicit dealings. That was what the Psalmist meant when he said in Psalms 119:11 (NKJV): Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, that I may not sin against You.
Lastly, develop the discipline of meditating on God’s Word. Ruminate on the Word until it infiltrates your thoughts to the extent that it takes root in you; becoming flesh; and, part and parcel of your nature. When you and the Word become so inseparable that you are fully convinced about what God wants and does not want, defiling yourself through participating in corruptive activities will no longer be an option.
Growing Your Faith
Faith is a virtue that every human being is born with. Romans 12:3 (KJV) says that everyone has already been given ‘the measure of faith’. What is ‘Faith’? Hebrews 11:1 explains that (EXB): Faith means being sure [the assurance; or the tangible reality; or the sure foundation] of the things we hope for and knowing that something is realeven if we do not see it [the conviction/assurance/evidence about things not seen]. In fact, faith is what activates the Word of God to work.
To handle corruption, you need a high level of faith. This means that you have to grow that ‘measure of the faith’ that you initially received by default. As you know, corruption is a highly addictive vice, and so, just reading the word without applying your faith will not be powerful enough to restrain you from engaging in corruptive activities.
Who does not know that it takes faith to say ‘No’ to a bribe or a kickback when you are overridden with financial challenges? What with looming threats of hunger, rent, school fees, outstanding debts and all those bills that make corruption a necessary evil? But faith means that rather than trusting in a bribe or any other ill-gotten resources, you are convinced of God’s ability to supply well-over and above what corruption can put on the table. This is what Romans 4:21 refers to as ‘being fully persuaded that God performs what He promises’; one of which is to liberally supply all our needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19. AMP). When you think about it, who does not need such a God on his or her side given that there is much more from Him than just the finances one gets through corruption? For instance, whereas a bribe cannot keep you healthy, as Daudi found out; God can!
Faith is seeing God and His Word as the reality. Apparently, you cannot refrain from engaging in corruptive activities if you do not believe that God although invisible, is right there where you are…; more real than the air you breathe. Look at what Hebrews 11: 6 says (AMP): But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe thatGod exists… By beingconvinced that God is REAL, you will be conscious of the fact that you are under constant watch. How then will you dare engage in corruptive activities when you are under God’s very nose?
Faith is growing to a position where you understand that rather than wronging God, you are better off persevering through a pressing need, waiting patiently for His perfect time to come to pass. It is understanding the gross repercussions of living a Godless life, and realising how a wise person would rather please God than suffer the consequences of disappointing Him through engaging in corruption.
Faith is settling your heart that God will surely show you a clean way out rather than resorting to the vice as a means of funding your progress. It is a realisation that it is God that feeds the birds who do not sow or harvest, and clothes the lilies; and that because you are more important than all of them, He will get you sorted (Matthew 6:26-34).
In Psalms 37:25, David said that he had never seen the children of a righteous man begging for food; teaching us that God able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we will ever ask or think (Ephesians 3:20-21, KJV). He is a rich father who always comes through: never late and never early. Just on time. So we do not have to go bribing people so as to make a living. By trusting Him, we can never be disappointed (Romans 10:11); because faith always produces results.
Faith is taking God’s Word and obeying it out of your love for Him rather than ‘monstrous fear’; choosing to reciprocate His love in return. When you love God, you will not see Him as a conman who says things that He does not mean. You will take Him at His Word. That is why 1 Corinthians 13:13 says that Love is greater than Faith. It reads (AMP): And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love. Therefore, maintain the fear of the Lord through Love. That way, you will not be tempted to engage in corruptive activities. Proverbs 8:13 says (TLB): If anyone respects and fears God, he will hate evil. For wisdom hates pride, arrogance, corruption, and deceit of every kind.
Better still, you can use your mouth, by faith, to declare changes in your organisation and nation at large and watch those declarations come to pass. Mark 11:23 clears us on this. That scripture reads (NKJV): For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea’, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. So, feel free to decree the exposure of the corrupt and command them to turn from their wicked ways. By faith, weed corrupt individuals out of your organisation with just a Word. The prayer of a righteous person avails much (James 5:16) and God fulfills the desires of His children (Psalms 37:4). My friend! Confession, based on firm faith, is key in the fight against corruption. See what Hebrews 10:23 says (AMP): Let us seize and hold tightly fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is reliable and trustworthy and faithful [to His word];... Therefore, declare positives over your organisation and country, and watch miracles unfold.