James 5:4 – Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.
James 5:1-6 addresses the rich and wealthy. It’s a warning message that ill gotten wealth will eventually do more harm than good. Money from corrupt deals. Money from cheating business partners. Money from breach of contract. All such monies will bring regrets.
Wealth wrongful acquired will causes illness and death, says the passage. The comfortable life you live at the expense of others, is a preparation for the harshest judgment from God. The passage even mentions that, God knows the innocent people you have hurt and murdered out of paranoia of being rich and powerful.
James 5:1 – Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you.
James 5:2 – Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.
James 5:3 – Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.
James 5:4 – Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.
James 5:5 – You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.
James 5:6 – You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.
Our focus today is James 5:4. When someone works for you they should be paid without delay. When someone works for you, do not review terms of agreement after the work. Their cry reaches God and He will revenge.
There is no free labor. People work because they have needs and the pay would help them. People work with expectations of when they will be paid and how much. Do not deny and do not delay. It will hurt the employer more than employees.
Deuteronomy 24:14 – Do not take advantage of a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether that worker is a fellow Israelite or a foreigner residing in one of your towns.
Deuteronomy 24:15 – Pay them their wages each day before sunset, because they are poor and are counting on it. Otherwise they may cry to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin.
God is the unseen guarantor in all business deals. Delayed or denied pay will never prosper an individual or organization. If helpless workers complain and murmur about your injustice, God listens and it will hurt the person responsible eventually. It will hurt the employer more than employees.
Are we in-charge of people working under us? We should not review terms of payment after they work to their disadvantage. Are we engaged in business deals? Do not breach the contract and take advantage of your partner(s). God is the guarantor of all employment and business deals. This could be the reason why some are sickly, unhappy and making no progress in spite of many efforts.
Dear God forgive our abuse of employees and abuse of business partners. Dear God avenge our lost opportunities and helplessness in the hands of powerful and untouchable people who have taken advantage of us. May mercy and justice prevail, in Jesus’s name, Amen!
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