”At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him. When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.“ – Acts 24:26-27 NIV

It’s sad that the focus of so many people is gain by way of currying favors and bribing or getting bribes. They want to achieve power by their own hands for their own benefit. God gives power to those whom he loves, freely, for his benefit, and by extension theirs when they serve him properly as they were made to. The focus should never be on what you can give yourself but on what you can give to God and how to achieve what he’s asked you to do with what he’s given. What God gives is measured and appropriate for completing those tasks. Trust God and lean not on yourself.