Today the Book of Proverbs gives us very practical wisdom—not only for our spiritual life, but also for the way we live as citizens and exercise leadership.
It gives us three simple challenges.
First: examine your heart.
Proverbs says: “All the ways of a man may be right in his own eyes, but it is the Lord who proves hearts.”
This is where both holiness and corruption begin: in the heart. Before corruption appears in government offices, contracts, budgets, or elections, it has already begun in the human heart.
We are very good at making excuses:
“Everybody is doing it.”
“This is how the system works.”
“Just this once.”
“Wala may makakita.”
But even when nobody sees, God sees the heart. That is why the I Choose God Movement must begin with personal conversion. Before asking, “What is wrong with our country?” perhaps we should also ask, “Lord, what needs to change in me?”
Second: Do what is right.
Proverbs says: “To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”
This is very challenging for us Christians.
We can attend Mass, pray the rosary, join processions, and make generous offerings. These are beautiful expressions of faith. But God also asks: Are we honest? Are we just? Do we refuse corruption even when it benefits us?
Our faith cannot remain inside the church. When we choose honesty over cheating, service over self-interest, and the common good over personal gain, we choose God.
Third: Listen to the poor.
Proverbs says: “Those who shut their ears to the cry of the poor will themselves call out and not be answered.”
This is especially important for those entrusted with leadership. The true measure of leadership is not how powerful a leader becomes, but whether the lives of ordinary people become better.
When public money is stolen, it is not merely money that disappears. Somewhere, a poor family loses medicine. A child loses a classroom. A community loses a road. A hungry person loses food.
So never close your ears to the poor.
Not everything in our hands is ours
Let me end with a simple story.
A poor mother went to the market with her little daughter. She had just enough money to buy rice and a few things for dinner.
When they arrived home, the mother discovered that the vendor had mistakenly given her too much change.
Her daughter became excited. She said, “Ma, blessing siguro ni! Palit ta’g sud-an!”
The mother smiled and said, “Dili tanan nga naa sa atong kamot, atoa.”
Not everything that comes into our hands belongs to us.
They walked back to the market and returned the money.
On their way home, the little girl asked, “Ma, pobre man ta. Ngano giuli pa man nimo?”
And the mother answered: “Anak, pobre ta. Pero dili ta kawatan.”
My child, we may be poor, but we are not thieves.
Final Words
Brothers and sisters, imagine if every Filipino child grew up hearing that from home.
Imagine if we taught our children that success is not having more, but being honest.
Imagine if every person entrusted with public money could say: “This money may be in my hands, but it is not mine.”
It belongs to the farmer who pays taxes.
It belongs to the driver working long hours.
It belongs to the teacher, the vendor, the laborer.
It belongs to the Filipino people.
Perhaps the renewal of our country begins with something as simple as that mother’s words: “Dili tanan nga naa sa atong kamot, atoa.”
Examine your heart.
Do what is right.
Listen to the poor.
And whenever money, power, position, or personal advantage tempts us to compromise what is right, may our conscience be strong enough to say: “This does not belong to me. I will do what is right. I choose God.”