A bribe is receiving something for self so that another may get away with injustice. (Deuteronomy 16:19-20) Bribery is also giving anything of value with the intention of influencing one in the discharge of his or her duties. (1 Samuel 12:3) Both the giver and receiver are guilty. Most wealthy are only different than the poor in that they have the means to bribe, the poor would most likely be involved in a bribe if they had the means to.
Is there such a thing as spiritual bribes? Is saying to God, “I will do this if you do what I want,” a spiritual bribe? Yes. Yet, God cannot be bribed. I cannot buy God’s favor. I have nothing to buy God’s favor anyway because he owns all and what little I have to offer he can obtain without me. Yet, mostly God cannot be bribed because it is not in his character. “A greedy man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates bribes will live.”
