Warning to Oppressors

Warning to oppressor

“Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you.  
Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.  
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.  
Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.  
You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.  
You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.” 
James 5:1-6
Here is a warning to the rich who are oppressing the poor. James makes it very clear that those who are taking advantage of the poor will one day face the wrath of a living God.
The bible time and time again indicates that we are our brothers keeper. That doesn’t mean our brother shouldn’t be doing all he can to help himself.
What it means is people first.
James 5:1-6 is a call to businessmen and woman to treat their workers fairly. To give them their just wages and benefits.
In God’s way of doing things it is very much placed upon those who have to help those who have not.
 Leviticus states,
“ ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest.  
Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.” 
                                                                       Leviticus 19: 9,10.
The Talmud has an interesting story it says,
“Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, “Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?”  He answered, “God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love.”
                                                                                                               The Talmud
Christians are called to be honest and upright in all their dealings. If we are in business we should be paying a living wage to our employees not minimum wage. We should be providing benefits such as drug plans, health plans, even pension plans.
We should be doing and giving to our employees what we would want for ourselves.
Jesus said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” 
                           Matthew 7:12.
Think about it.