God Talks Compliance

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 of Almighty. James 5:4 NIV

As I have talked with my daughter Melody over the past few months in her Grand Opening Supervisor role, one of the task before her is Compliance. Although safety is included in this task, much is surrounding the issue of payroll and breaks for the workers. In my reading this morning, I found this verse in James about the rich employer and his workers.

Before you think I am trying to slander the rich, I am not. Let’s break down the verse and then I will give some of my gleanings for application.

• Look!  James is using a term for the reader to stop and take notice. When you see look, or behold in the Bible take a moment to pause. The issue is important and can be easily missed. Breathe and read the context of the entire passage.
• The wages you failed to pay the workers – This is a phrase correlating to Deut. 24:14-15 which frameworks pay for workers, especially the poor and needy. The pay should be payed daily when the work is completed (their needs consist of daily bread), lest the cry the employer to the Lord. Agreement on pay of 1 week, 2 weeks or monthly is settled before hand, but should not be missed.
• The wages…are crying out against you.
  • Employers take all the risk, but that does not mean they do not have to pay their employees.
  • Employees are entitled to their wages, but not all of the profits.
  • Failure to give to employees what is agreed has a voice which can speak to God for justice.
• The cries of the harvesters have reached the ear of the Lord Almighty.
  • Lord Almighty is a term Lord Saboath which means Lord of armies or a host of armies. It is a term for a position of sitting as a judge.
  • Cries against injustice do reach the throne of God.

My gleanings…although you may have more.

• God cares about employers by providing guidelines for conducting the affairs of the business which leads to blessing and prosperity.
• Compliance is expected. No one is perfect. So when issues are uncovered, give the employer time to address the issue properly. AND the employer need not sweep “anything” under the rug.
• The poor and needy have a judge who will listen and judge fairly even over issues in the workplace.
• Business owners are a blessing to those who they employ. The employee should be treated fairly. Pray for businesses to prosper.

The challenge to fulfill our task of being good stewards rolls over into our finances. When conducting our financial affairs we should all be generous. Withholding what is due (what you told someone you would give to them for any transaction) is stealing from them. Being generous blesses the giver and the receiver.

When you receive your paycheck, remember to give God thanks and pray blessing over your employer. For the business owners, may you be blessed with great employees who provide the greatest of service to make your business successful.

Finally, God owns it all, therefore he sets the guidelines to bring blessing to all. Tithing is our privilege to remind us regularly that God will provide for His children. Not tithing is withholding from the church in which you gather.

Blessings Love y’all