CORRUPTION AND COMPASSION

 Psalms 14:1-3 (NIV)

[1] The fool says in his heart, 

“There is no God.” 

They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; 

there is no one who does good.

[2] The LORD looks down from heaven 

on the sons of men 

to see if there are any who understand, 

any who seek God.

[3] All have turned aside, 

they have together become corrupt; 

there is no one who does good, 

not even one.

Are we still surprised that there is corruption all around?  Even in the midst of a pandemic, you would think that people would be sincere, honest, in their dealings.  No.  They are still corrupt.  Here we have the biblical understanding of why there is corruption everywhere - The fool says IN HIS HEART “there is no God”.  

He believes it in his religion, even with his mouth he will profess a belief in a God.  He will pray, He will call out to God for help.  But in his HEART he says “there is no God”.  It is just our SELF that matters.  Me, myself and I - that’s who is important in our hearts.  And we will do anything and everything just for our self.

That’s why men are corrupt.  Many (not necessarily all) in government are corrupt.  And not just government (they’re the only ones magnified in the news), even in companies, businesses, individuals - all are corrupt.  Even hospitals are corrupt.  (Did you hear that story about LSI’s (locally stranded individuals) faking their health certificates just so they could go back to their province?  Both the LSI and the computer shop that helped them print out a fake certificate were corrupt). No one does good in the eyes of God.  If ever they are doing “good” it is all for SELF.  Self gain, self exaltation, self gratification.  God calls them FOOLS.

Look at verse 3 - “there is NO ONE WHO DOES GOOD, NOT EVEN ONE”.  In the eyes of God, as He looks down on the earth, there is no one who does good.  And that is why we are surprised when someone we know and trust turns out to be corrupt.  It is embedded in a man’s heart.

But take a closer look at verse 3 - “there is NO ONE WHO DOES GOOD, NOT EVEN ONE”.  That includes us, doesn’t it?  A true Christian knows that our hearts, when left on it’s own, without God, without the conviction of the Holy Spirit, is corrupt.

The only reason why God can look down on a true believer and say that we are righteous and good...the only way that we are able to do good, and not be corrupt in our ways now,  is only because we have put our faith in His Son, who died on the cross for our sins, and washed us, changed our hearts, and made us new.  And we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit, indwelling us, convicting us, changing us, renewing us everyday.

But deep down we know we were just like the people in the world, whom we quickly judge to be corrupt.

There is no way that a true disciple of Christ can look at the world and bring judgement upon a people who are corrupt, for we were once one with them, we were once like them.  We are who we are today only because of Christ who has made us new.

And that is why we have compassion.  That is why we pray with compassion, that everyone in this world will know the Savior, and believe, that their hearts may also be cleansed and made new, just as Christ was gracious upon us and made us righteous and new in His sight.

1 Timothy 2:1-6 (NIV)

[1] I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— [2] for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. [3] This is good, and pleases God our Savior, [4] who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. [5] For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, [6] who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.