Corruption has a long history

Over the centuries, anti-corruption laws have spread across many countries, but such legislation has not stopped the trade in bribes. Every day, millions of bribes are exchanged, and billions of people bear the cost.

Corruption has become so common and so organised that it threatens the basic order of society. In some places, little gets done unless someone pays off the right person. A bribe can help a person pass an exam, secure a driving licence, win a contract, or even sway a court case.

“Corruption is like heavy pollution that weighs on people’s spirits,” says a Paris lawyer.

Bribery in business

Bribery is especially common in commerce, where profit can hide almost any abuse. Some companies set aside a third of their profits just to satisfy corrupt officials, and one British magazine reported that as much as 10% of the $25 billion spent each year on international arms trade goes towards bribing possible buyers. As corruption has grown, the damage has become severe, and in some countries crony capitalism has helped wreck whole economies.

The people who suffer most are usually the poor, because they are least able to pay bribes. They are often locked out of jobs, services, and fair treatment, while those with money move ahead. Corruption is one form of oppression, and it hits hard where people can least afford it.

Why people become corrupt

People choose corruption for different reasons. For some, it seems like the easiest way, or the only way, to get what they want. A bribe can also look like a quick route out of punishment, especially when people see politicians, police officers, and judges ignore corruption or take part in it themselves.

Once corruption grows, it can start to feel normal. Low wages push some people into taking bribes just to live decently, while those who pay bribes for unfair gain rarely get punished. When punishment is slow or absent, more people decide that honesty is pointless. Solomon noted that when bad acts are not dealt with quickly, people feel free to keep doing them.

Selfishness and greed also keep the cycle going. Selfish people ignore the harm their actions cause, because they benefit from them, and greed only makes that worse. The more they gain, the more they want, yet wealth never satisfies them for long.

A deeper force behind it

The Bible also points to Satan as a force behind corruption. He offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if Jesus would worship him, which shows how far bribery can go. That offer was rejected, and Jesus remained incorruptible.

Jesus taught his followers to live with the same honesty. His example still stands as a direct challenge to corruption, and it raises an important question for today—can people resist bribery and unfair gain where corruption seems normal?

The next article looks at that question.