Treating Service Providers Fairly - 05/19/2024

One of the problems in the days of James was the mistreatment of the poor by the rich. The rich would treat any way they wanted those who provided a service for them.  James says the rich must treat people fairly (James 5:4-6).

James tells the rich they should not be withholding the wages of those who “mowed [their] fields” or harvested their crops. In both situations, the service providers were crying out to the Lord against the rich.

James points out that the rich have lived in “wanton pleasure,” they have “fattened [their] hearts” and yet they “have condemned and put to death the righteous man.” The rich were getting away with this behavior because the “servants” did not resist those for whom they were working.

The point James is making with this last comment is that the rich were taking advantage of the poor simply because they could. The rich were not thinking that the poor needed their daily wages so they could eat and provide for their families. This amounts to thinking only about themselves and not the other person.

Having the status of being rich does not remove the fact that everyone is a human being and we all have the same feelings and desires. The amount of money in our bank account or the sum of our collective assets, does not change the basic feelings and desires everyone has. We all want to provide the necessities for our family.

It is a common trait of some rich to think they have certain privileges. While he is probably also including those who are not Christians with these remarks, James is saying that within the Christian brotherhood this should not be the case when dealing with fellow Christians. He is wanting his readers who are rich to be treating fairly those who are providing a service to them.

In a local church setting, the rich do not have special rights or advantages over the poor. The monetary status of a church member is of no importance. Likewise, the poor church member does not need to think he is inferior to the rich. Everyone should be treated the same. We are “brothers and sisters.” We are equal.

In many situations, a person being rich or poor is the result of opportunities that are presented to them. Both may work very hard for the monies they obtain.

As a person who is “rich” we must always remember that we must treat the service provider fairly, regardless of whether they are a Christian or not. Every Christian must remember to treat people fairly because that is a mandatory characteristic of those who are living God’s way. - cgm

Scriptural quotations from the NASB1995.