September 15, 2026 Morning Devotional

Morning Devotion: Read Proverbs

Proverbs 29:4  The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.

Bribery is a very subtle way to gain influence over someone else. It comes down to a very simple principle spoken as such, “You wash my hands and I’ll wash you hands. Bribery is the catalyst that forces compliance and it’s all based on covetousness.

In the U.S. there and other countries there are influencers and lobbyist who use great amounts of money and gifts to influence others to change a vote in favour of their agenda.

Bribery perverts judgment.

1Samuel 8:1  And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. 2  Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba. 3  And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

Be very careful of the gift giver and the gifts for they can, whether by subtlety or outright corruption, cause judgment to be perverted.

Deuteronomy 16:19  Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.

Accepting of gifts in such a manner as to pervert judgement is to give way to covetousness. One of God’s ten commandments specifically speaks against covetousness.

Exodus 20:17  Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

Luke 12:15  And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

My christian friend, don’t let the covetousness of money and gifts be the influence in your life.

1Timothy 6:10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

If you are going to covet, covet the Lord. Make the Lord your desire; make the Lord’s word, the bible, be your influencer.

Colossians 3:1  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

The choice is still yours,

Pastor Cook