If The Buck Stops With You, You Can End Corruption

Ecclesiastes 5:8-9
(8) If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still. (9) The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.

New Living Translation
Don’t be surprised if you see a poor person being oppressed by the powerful and if justice is being miscarried throughout the land. For every official is under orders from higher up, and matters of justice get lost in red tape and bureaucracy.

Amplified Bible
If you see the oppression of the poor and the denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight [of corruption]; for a higher official watches over another official, and there are higher ones over them [looking out for one another].

Contemporary English Version
Don’t be surprised if the poor of your country are abused, and injustice takes the place of justice. After all, the lower officials must do what the higher ones order them to do.

Good News Translation
Don’t be surprised when you see that the government oppresses the poor and denies them justice and their rights. Every official is protected by someone higher, and both are protected by still higher officials.

When you say the buck stops with me, it means you take full responsibility for what happened. The buck stops with the president means the president takes full and final responsibility for what happens. When the buck stops with you, you are responsible for making the final decision that allows something or stops it.

Corruption is a present-day problem facing governments, and organizations both public and private. Corruption may be the misappropriation of funds, theft of resources, nepotism in promotion and employment, abuse of power, injustice, and abuse of human rights, among many other unethical things that shouldn’t happen at all.

The Bible tells us today that when you see corruption, the denial of justice, and the abuse of rights, do not be surprised. Do not be surprised because it is a systemic problem. the corrupt official you see is not alone. There are other corrupt officials who are silent and by silence, they approve of the injustice and abuse of rights. Some officials will not pick up calls or respond to complaints because their silence is a distinct communication that they are party to what the officials below them are engaged in.

Read the verse in all the versions provided and the message will be shockingly true. The Bible tells us that every official has another official who supervises him or her. If corruption is allowed, it is because the supervising official has approved it. If the supervising official hasn’t noticed it, then that means the person is careless and incompetent, and therefore in that role in a corrupt manner.

The Bible says that finally, the king himself becomes a beneficiary of the corruption. If there is corruption and no one is punished, then the king is a beneficiary of that corruption. Corruption can be stopped by the king if he wants. corruption thrives because the king and those below it have accepted it. If the king is unaware, he is incompetent and careless and should abdicate the throne.

Are you the king whom you are serving? The buck stops with you. You are responsible for every evil and good that happens under you. Is there corruption under you? Until you stop it or resign for being unable to do it, you are equally corrupt. Is there tribalism, nepotism, and racism under you? You are guilty of the same until the day you address it. If the buck stops with you, you can end the evil that happens under your charge.

Oh God, indeed the buck stops with us. We have pretended that we do not know and are not responsible. We have in silence permitted evil to thrive under us. Dear God forgive us and help us, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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