On July 14, 2004, The Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav, while speaking on the Opposition alliance that walked out on him said, “When god wants to punish someone, he does not kill but corrupts that person’s mind.” Though he was speaking on the behavior of the opposition, his statement in general has a lot of meaning. People follow corrupt ways to secure a benefit for oneself or another. It is a way to get one’s work done. They consider it a blessing. Even the community has become indifferent to it. Now a day, no serious efforts are taken to educate the children to keep away from corrupt ways. Instead, from the very young age they are given the impression that getting one’s work done is more important than the moral and social standards. They are taught in a subtle way in this manner by their own parents and the different teachers they have. Personal gain is given more importance than relationships. People are more concerned about self and they ignore their social responsibility. All these are done for some personal gain. Children who observe this learn to become selfish. The end result is social problems and family problems. This leads to depression and even to suicide and murder.
People consider corruption a blessing to get their work done or to save tax. Laloo says it is the punishment of god. Who is correct? What do you think?
Rom 1:18 &19 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of men who by their wickedness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.”
God has revealed Himself to us and has also given us knowledge of good and evil. The knowledge given to us is not for becoming a better corrupt person, but to glorify God, to fear Him and to be the light of the world.
But man thinks he is smarter. Rom 1:22 “Claiming to be wise, they became fools” Rom 1:24 “ Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity” Laloo said that as punishment, God corrupts the mind of man. God never corrupts the mind of man, but He allows the devil to do his work as man has already sided with the devil. “Therefore God gave them up” It is not for our blessing, but it is for our destruction. We suffer its consequences in this world itself and the punishment on the Day of Judgment. Therefore rather than being indifferent, we need to lead in eradicating this evil from the face of the earth.
Rather than giving the negative teaching in a subtle way to our children, let us be bold enough to speak and act strongly on this topic. Do not show the gates of hell, but that of heaven to your children. Rather than ignoring your social responsibilities, find time for it so that your children who are watching you will also understand the social implications of his own behavior and personality.
Now a day we have teachers for each subject. They are not expected to teach anything other than their subject. We spend our money and time to send our children to these teachers. But we fail to appoint a teacher for the subject “moral, social and spiritual values”. This is the most important subject and all students need to learn this. We have churches to give this teaching free of cost, but do we have time for it? A man without moral, social and spiritual standards is just like the animals that do not have any of it. A man gains respect not by his intelect, but by ‘who he is’. His moral, social and spiritual values determine who he is and not intellectual education alone.
While The President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was addressing the MLAs in the Andhra Pradesh State Assembly on July 14, 2004, Mr. G. Kishan Reddy (BJP MLA) asked him how corruption in Public life could be curbed and Kalam replied, “Only three persons can help curb corruption- your father, mother and teacher.”
Is your father, mother or teacher teaching you what they should? If not you should find a teacher who will mold your life on the right path. You will never find a better teacher than Jesus. But to learn from Him, you need to have time to meditate on the word of God and the desire and willingness to obey what you learn from it. You should also have the fellowship of the saints of God to encourage you and to guide you. You need your academic education, but “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Heb 10:25 Remember, the meeting should be with the saints and if you do not have such a group, then find it.
John 15:6 “If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned.”
So be aware and God bless you!
Joseph Joy
