I remember working in an organization some years ago that seemed to thrive on not paying its employees. Delayed salaries became the norm, so much so that when payments finally came after months of waiting, it felt like a celebration galore.
Yet, day after day, we showed up to work and gave our best effort. Some of us were driven by pure passion for what we did, while others simply stayed out of fear, uncertain if they would secure another job elsewhere. Ironically, this institution prided itself on being built on godly principles. The managers presented themselves as God-fearing, Bible-believing Christians. But while they arrived in luxurious vehicles, dressed in the finest clothes, bags, and shoes, their employees walked around hungry and desperate, waiting for salaries that, in some cases, could barely afford a single handbag of the CEO. It was disheartening.
What many employers fail to understand is that much of a company’s growth and success depends on the dedication of its employees. Disgruntled workers are the last obstacle any organization wants to deal with. On the other hand, happy employees are often the key to a thriving business.
I am not saying companies won’t experience financial downturns. Hard times come. But if and when you have the means to pay your workers, do not withhold it. Make it a principle to pay employees promptly so that in the difficult seasons, they can stand with you in understanding. Proverbs 3:27-28 says “do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you’ when you already have it with you.”
One of the sins for which God’s people were condemned in the book of Malachi was the injustice of depriving employees of their rightful wages. Malachi 3:5 says “At that time I will put you on trial. I am eager to witness against all sorcerers, adulterers, and liars. I will speak against those who cheat employees of their wages, who oppress widows and orphans, and who deprive foreigners living among you of justice. For these people do not fear me,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
This is not just a social wrong but a spiritual offense against God. The Bible repeatedly warns against exploiting workers. James 5:4 says “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.” 1 Timothy 5:18 also says: ‘Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,’ and ‘The worker deserves his wages.’”
God cares about justice in every area of life, including how employers treat their workers. Those who withhold rightful wages not only harm their employees but also invite divine judgment.
Paying workers their wages is so important to God that He established it as a governing principle for His people after their exodus from Egypt. Leviticus 19:13 says, ‘Do not defraud or rob your neighbor. Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight.’ Deuteronomy 24:14-15 also says, “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. 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.”
In God’s kingdom, there is a divine standard for conducting business, one that is distinct from the world’s approach. Those who fear the Lord interact with their workers with integrity and righteousness. Believers in business understand that their ultimate employer is God, for it is He who gives the power to create wealth, along with wisdom, ideas, and innovations. While we may labor diligently, true increase comes from the Lord. As stewards of the resources entrusted to us, we are called to manage them with faithfulness and honor, recognizing that success is not solely the product of our effort.
Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, emphasized this profound truth when he said: “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow” (1 Corinthians 3:6). Though our work (planting and watering) is essential, it is ultimately God who brings the harvest. Our success in business and all our endeavors is not merely a result of hard work but of God’s divine provision and blessing. With this understanding, we steward our businesses with the fear of God, humility and accountability, trusting in the One who grants the increase.
With this understanding, believers who fear the Lord handle company funds and resources in a way that honors God. They recognize that business is not merely an avenue for personal enrichment, nor is it about amassing wealth for extravagant lifestyles, building the next big house, buying the latest cars, or indulging in luxury. Instead, their priorities are aligned: God first, then humanity.
Such individuals are the ones God blesses even more because He knows that the resources entrusted to them will not end with them but will flow through them to others. Paul said: “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.” (Ephesians 4:28)
The day I came across this scripture was the day I made a firm decision: as I have, I will give. When I work, earn, or create wealth through my hands or mind, it is not solely for me but so that I may also be a blessing to others. After all, isn’t that the true purpose of being blessed?
Believers in business who fear the Lord operate by kingdom principles, such as:
- Ensuring laborers and employees are paid their wages on time.
- Managing resources with integrity and generosity. They set aside designated funds to give back to society, extending help to those in need within their communities, such as orphans, the elderly, and the less privileged.
- Prioritizing stewardship over selfish gain.
Their business practices reflect their faith, and in doing so, they become vessels of God’s provision to the world. Some believers, even while identifying with a local church, view their businesses as a form of ministry, a place where they are responsible for making a difference. Paul said: “If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.” 1 Timothy 5:16. Although Paul specifically instructed the church to care for elderly widows, this principle can also be applied in workplaces.
By embracing this mindset, they see their generosity as a way to lighten the church’s financial burden, allowing the church to help even more people in need. Imagine if you, as a member, committed to supporting a few people in your church according to your ability and how God has blessed you. If a church had 100 members and each person took responsibility for just five individuals in need, the collective burden on the church would be significantly reduced.
Now, imagine if several businesses within the church took up even more! The church would then be able to direct its resources more effectively, prioritizing essential needs such as feeding the hungry and providing shelter for the homeless. This is how kingdom-minded believers contribute to a culture of generosity that truly transforms lives through their resources.
A Personal Note to You:
- Perhaps you have fasted and prayed endlessly for your company’s success, but could it be that the breakthrough you seek lies in something as simple as paying your workers their wages? Maybe the key to the growth you desperately desire in your organization is ensuring that your employees and their families have reason to smile.
- Even if they never pray for you in return, God Himself will bless you for honoring His word. Every salary paid, every bonus given, and every insurance covered adds another layer of God’s blessing upon your business. Obedience to His principles is never in vain.
Here are a few questions for you to reflect on today:
- As a business owner, how do your decisions demonstrate the fear of God?
- In what ways are you stewarding God’s resources wisely, positioning yourself to receive even more from Him?
- Can God trust you to handle His resources in a way that makes you a channel of blessing to others?
