“…Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye…” –Matthew 7:3-5

Members of congress and senators should stop exchanging accusations over alleged “fund insertions” into the 2019 national budget. Each of them tries to hurl accusations more vile than the last; however, it only makes it more apparent that they are all greedy.

If there are, in fact, illegal insertions, they were done in violation of the law and must be removed. The problem is lawmakers have grown envious after learning others had allotted more than they did. The disparity has some trying to increase their portion or slashing those of others, which has resulted in the ongoing fight – greed and envy are behind it all.

The Bible has a very relevant (and terrifying) explanation.

James 4:16 reads: “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.  Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: `God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’”

The lawmakers engaged in name-calling and mudslinging are public laughingstocks. Their exchanges have only unmasked themselves as officials pursuing personal interests and, with legislators like them, the nation loses.

However, they will all have their come-uppances, sooner or later, with fearful punishment coming from God.

The fact is, by inserting money for projects intended to benefit themselves, they are violating the commandments. They have also disregarded God’s command regarding judgment – noticing the plank in the eyes of their adversaries but not the mud splashed on their faces. While they may not be experiencing retribution now, God, who is a just God, will fulfill his vows sooner or later.

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I invite everyone to watch and listen to “Ang Tanging Daan,” which airs on DXBR Bukidnon Radyo 100.1 Power FM, Bukidnon Bisdak Radio 94.3 FM, and Star Radio Catbalogan 90.1 FM every day at 5:00 a.m.; and on DWBL 1242 AM in Metro Manila every Sunday at 12:00 noon. The program also broadcasts live on Facebook at DBWL 1242 Live Streaming, Ang Tanging Daan, Anak ng Diyos Kadugo Ni Kristo, Batas TV, BATAS INTERNET RADIO, Atty. Batas Mauricio, Kakampi Mo Ang Batas, and Melanio Lazo Mauricio Jr./WDJ