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Have you ever noticed the sometimes inconsistent and even contradictory reporting from the news media? In the not-too-distant past the big news was that people weren’t saving enough, harming themselves and the economy. But then, within days, the experts were bemoaning the fact that people weren’t spending enough, causing harm to the economy and thus themselves.

Over the past several weeks, two more seemingly contradictory statements have been extensively reported on. The one being the fact that corporations are making more money than they have in years – up 11-12% overall – with CEO compensation packages like-wise ballooning to enormous proportions. However, wages are lagging far behind with no relief expected anytime soon for the men and women producing the products being sold by the companies they diligently work for. (An issue confronting not only today’s workforce but future ones as well.) Can anybody explain to me how that is even remotely fair?

In my experience, Christians tend to be somewhat conservative, but it’s a shame when liberality gets relegated to liberal thinking. Charles Allen, a chaplain for Grace Unlimited, a campus ministry in Indianapolis, Indiana, would seem to agree. In an opinion piece written for the Indy/Star newspaper, he addressed the efforts by workers employed by Indianapolis area service industries who were speaking out on issues they perceive as unfair and unjust that they routinely face in the workplace. Many like-minded people across central Indiana vowing to stand with those workers as they air their grievances because they believe it’s the right thing to do and because they honestly believe that it will benefit the entire community in the end.

Their position being, if the city responds positively, it will actually encourage further economic development throughout the area; benefitting the more privileged for sure, but also providing economic relief for the more vulnerable throughout town as well. How? “The company begins to understand the people whose work and goodwill it needs to achieve it best results. The community benefits from having more citizens who no longer have to rely on taxpayer-funded government programs.” (And while this article is not necessarily intended to support a higher minimum wage across Indiana, it only stands to reason that people making a “livable” wage will consequently be able to purchase more durable goods and pay more taxes into the system rather than draining money out through relief agencies.) “When all that happens, we are taking better care of ourselves – working people, companies and community alike.”

Scripture speaks to the ideals of justice and fairness throughout its many pages; even addressing the topic of wages fairly and promptly paid. (Leviticus 19:13) Deuteronomy 25:4 ironically cautioning, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Which was not meant to merely address the value of providing for beasts of burden that facilitated the work of Israeli farmers, but to infer fair treatment of human laborers as well.

Jesus later expounding on this theology of fairness by encouraging those he sent out on preaching tours to accept whatever was offered to them by those they ministered to, asserting that workers deserve their wages. (Luke 10:7 See also Matthew 10:10) Paul then combining these two concepts into one in 1 Timothy 5:18. And to be sure, everyone needs to heed Jesus’ admonition to, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 12:15 Paul again building on this idea when he assures us that, “…of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person…has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” Ephesians 54:15

Some might think the Old Testament scripture used to introduce the idea of care for and fairness in dealing with “employees” is rather obscure, but it was a common practice to emphasize a point by either over-stating one’s purpose or to approach it obliquely – as in: Surely, if you are careful in how you treat your livestock, you’ll do even more for a human in your employ. Paul addressing this issue thusly, “Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk? Do I say this merely from a human point of view? Does not the Law say the same thing? For it is written in the Law of Moses: ‘Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.’ Is that about oxen that God is concerned? Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.” 1 Corinthians 9:7-10 (And even though he was writing in defense of his expectation of support from those he served in ministry, its plain from his references to other occupations that be believed that every worker deserved to be treated justly and with fairness.)

Speaking through his Prophet Malachi, God himself warns that when he comes near for judgement, he will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers – whom we would expect to be rebuked – but also, “…those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, …” Malachi 3:5 (See James 5:4 & 1 Timothy 6:17-19 as well.)

Mr. Allen finishes his aforementioned letter by admitting that, “…ensuring that hard-working people do not have to live in poverty takes added effort. It’s easier to continue with business as usual. But like exercising, it’s an effort that lets us take better care of ourselves.” – as a whole.

To which I would add the warning from Proverbs 21:13. “If a man (company or country) shuts his ears to the cry of the poor (or otherwise deserving), he too will cry out and not be answered.”

"Refreshment in Refuge" from Gina Burgess

Manifestations of the Spirit