When we hear the word corruption, our minds immediately picture dirty politicians pocketing millions while the poor suffer. We shake our heads, sigh in frustration, maybe post a rant on Facebook, and then move on with our day.
But here’s the hard truth most of us don’t want to admit: corruption isn’t just “out there” in the halls of Congress—it’s in here, in our daily choices.
That’s right. Corruption isn’t only about billion-peso ghost projects or luxury SUVs bought with taxpayers’ money. Corruption starts small. It starts with me. It starts with you.
And that’s why this issue should hit us harder than we think.
When Billions Are Stolen, Lives Are Stolen
Recently, Senator Panfilo Lacson revealed that more than 60% of a flood-control project’s budget goes straight into corruption. Imagine that—if a project was funded with ₱1 billion, over ₱600 million never even reaches the ground.
Who suffers? Not the corrupt officials living comfortably in their mansions. It’s the ordinary Filipino. Families washed away in flash floods. Children clinging for their lives in raging waters. Communities losing their homes and livelihoods because the very projects meant to protect them were either never built or were built so poorly that they collapsed in a year.
This is not just corruption of money. This is corruption of humanity. Corruption of compassion. Corruption of conscience.
The Bible has already warned about this:
“You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.”
—Deuteronomy 16:19 (NKJV)
When leaders take bribes, their eyes are blinded. They no longer see the cries of flood victims. They no longer hear the anguish of grieving parents. Their vision is clouded, and their hearts hardened.
But Wait—What About Us?
It’s easy to point fingers at politicians, isn’t it? We call them greedy, corrupt, and heartless. And many of them are.
But before we get too comfortable pointing at “them,” maybe it’s time to look in the mirror.
- When you cheat on an exam, that’s corruption.
- When you lie to your boss about why you’re late, that’s corruption.
- When you cut corners at work, that’s corruption.
- When you accept favors in exchange for giving someone special treatment, that’s corruption.
I’ll be honest—I’ve been guilty of this too. When I should have worked from scratch but instead copied and pasted just to get things done, that’s a form of corruption.
And here’s the kicker: corruption rarely starts big. It starts with “just this once.” It starts with a small compromise. A few hundred pesos. A tiny lie. A harmless shortcut.
But Yahshua made it clear:
“He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.”
—Luke 16:10 (NKJV)
If we’re dishonest in the little things, how can God trust us with the big things—like His Kingdom?
Choosing Integrity When No One’s Watching
So yes, corruption in government is sickening. It robs lives, futures, and trust. But let’s not fool ourselves: if we compromise integrity in our own lives, we are no different in principle from the officials we condemn.
Every day, we face choices:
- Integrity or compromise?
- Truth or convenience?
- Justice or self-interest?
We may not control the billions lost in ghost projects, but we do control the honesty of our words, the faithfulness of our work, and the integrity of our hearts.
And here’s the hope: when we choose integrity, we are training ourselves for something far greater. Because one day, God promises to entrust His faithful people with rulership in His Kingdom—a Kingdom where justice will finally prevail.
So let’s stop shrugging off corruption as a “politician’s problem.” Let’s start where it really matters—in our own hearts.
Because when you refuse to compromise, when you live with integrity, you are not powerless. You are living proof that righteousness still shines in a dark world.
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