Article 1, Section 9, Paragraphs 7-8
No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.
No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.
Gifts of Titles upon Officials
Titles mean nothing to God!
A Title of Nobility is any title conferred upon a person. Dignity or Dignitary is one such title! Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary.
An emolument is "the profit arising from an office or employment, usually in the form of fees or wages." Collins English Dictionary
Titles and credits are a very hollow thing at best. They are attached to fads, and must constantly be changed to maintain "respectfulness." What a generation considers an honor, the next generation despises.
The Scriptures are clear that no officials are to ever accept anything that may taint justice or judgment. While titles are not considered a monetary value, they can still be used to bribe officials and sway sympathies.
Exodus 23:8, "And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous."
Another real problem with titles is they are not genuine gifts, but symbolic of a monetary bribe.
Proverbs 25:14, "Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain."
The danger that needs to be averted is found in Proverbs. A gift can get people past doors that keep most people out. In governments, this can be dangerous to citizens.
Proverbs 18:16, "A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men."
Anyone that lusts after a chance to advance his own stature is a huge detriment to his family. God grants a family as a gift and heritage. Selfishness hurts everyone in it.
Proverbs 15:27, "He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live."
We are also reminded that making righteous decisions is what establishes a country, not the titles that come to the person who rules.
Proverbs 29:4, "The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it."
An example of such a title is "Duke" of Edom! The Hebrew word is only a leader of a thousand. The Latin Vulgate conferred the title Duke! (Bridges, R. F., & L. A. Weigle. King James Bible Word Book. electronic ed. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1994. Page 113).
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