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.
One of the problems about which James writes here is unjust wages for those who work for a person. The wealthy were not paying their workers a fare, living wage. In the context in which I presently live, this can be a big challenge. Wages are low in the Philippines. A laborer in Manila earns about $10 a day. Many prices are similar to US prices, so $10 a day does not go very far. Poverty is everywhere, but most people have at least rice to eat. And yet, there are super wealthy people around us, with mansions, private drivers, and vacation homes. Every society is like this. A business owner cannot give away money so much that the business cannot operate. But, many business owners can be fair with the wages they pay their workers. Income will never be equal; socialism has failed in this regard. But for those who call on Jesus, we can be equitable with those who work for us. If we cannot pay high wages, we can show our workers that we care in other ways. James is particularly concerned about the wealthy who abuse their workers with unfair wages. God is watching. This thought should be enough warning for anyone who employs other people. We all will give an account for how we have lived. Let’s do the best we can for those under our care. Let’s use whatever wealth we have to be blessing to those around us.
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