Proverbs 18

OK, one last comment on the whole bribery thing and then I'm done. There are 2 standard definitions for bribery from Merriam-Webster:

1. money or favor given or promised in order to influence the judgment or conduct of a person in a position of trust
2. something that serves to induce or influence

The first definition of a bribe would fall under the umbrella of subverting justice: it is not your argument to logic and reason that sway the opinion of the person in trust. However, the second definition of a bribe is a little less devious in nature. When I tip the cocktail waitress a dollar for a two dollar well drink it is no longer a tip for services rendered, but a gift to encourage quality service in the future: "treat me right and there will be more in it for you". This is simply greasing the wheels of the machine. When I bring in flowers for the secretaries in the office, this is a gift for their services on one level, but on another level I expect the gift to encourage cooperation and assistance in the future. A retailer provides discounts on their merchandise in order to influence your spending habits and encourage your future patronage of their establishment. All three of these examples of "bribes" are akin to what Solomon is talking about in Proverbs 18:16

A gift opens the way for the giver
and ushers him into the presence of the great.

And again, as with Proverbs 17:8, there is no condemnation of the action, simply a description of causation.

So we come back to the thoughts I was entertaining the other day regarding bribery and how it stands outside of a legalistic framework (at least that's what I was thinking about; if this came through in my writing is suspect:). I say that a gift with a hidden agenda (or even an acknowledged second agenda) is a bribe. Does such behavior jive with Christ's behavior? Does gifting with the hopes of influence (i.e., the second definition of a bribe) demonstrate loving our neighbor as our self?

Such gifting is a form of manipulation. Does Jesus manipulate to obtain his goals? Is manipulation a demonstration of our love? My first response to either question would be 'no'. But then I quickly backpedal: when I give presents to my son, it is to bring him joy and to make him happy. But that's manipulation! I am giving in order to manipulate his emotional state. This influence over his emotions may be motivated by love but is manipulation none the less. So what does that mean. Should all of our actions with the world be both altruistic and ambivalent? I would be hard pressed to get out of bed if I lived my life under such a structure.

So that leaves us no better off than where we started. In fact I might have lost some wisdom through that thought process :)