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. Deuteronomy 24:14
Every nation has people who are foreigners and people who are poor living among them. It is something that cannot be escaped. Usually with many of the foreigners, they are poor. They have moved from one nation to another with very little money, trying to make a living.
With this type of situation, they, along with those who are poor, are often willing to do any work for any pay, just to survive. Knowing this, there are many people who will take advantage of this desperate situation. They will pay as little as possible to get their work. The worker who is poor will work and do anything just for something. Something is seen as better than nothing.
Believers are often known for taking advantage of other believers in the workplace. They will pay as little as possible and expect the highest output of work. They hide behind the verse that every believer is to work as unto the Lord. This is taking advantage, rather than giving the worker what he is worth.
God told the Israelites not to take advantage of one of these people. They are to pay them what they are worth and not to put extra burdens upon them.
Every believer is to be generous with what they have been blessed with. They are to love everyone equally. Taking advantage of another person’s situation is neither generous nor loving.
God is generous with every person. He does not take advantage of a person and his situation, but loves every person equally. He pours out His love, grace, and mercy equally upon every person. God provides abundantly to every person every thing that they need.
As a believer, you must live your life like Jesus did, with generous love, mercy and grace. Jesus came to serve, not to be served. When you take advantage of others, you are placing yourself as the head, rather than the servant. Generously pour out what God has given you into the lives of others. God will pour back into your life what you have need of.
Do not expect more from someone than what you expect of others. Do not give less to one than to another. Treat everyone with God’s love equally.
I pray today that you will know God’s love for everyone; that you will be generous as God is; that you will not take advantage of others in their situations; that you will trust God with what you have; and that you will serve as Jesus served.
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