Masters’ Duty to Their Servants

About all we care to say on this subject is to condemn the evil of oppression. It is a disposition on the part of many to secure laborers at the lowest possible price. We shall give an illustration that will enable you to see the evil practiced by many who profess to love God and their fellow men.

Mr. A. is a laborer and a poor man. He goes to Mr. B. seeking employment. Mr. B. has work he desires to have done, but he wants it done at as low a cost as possible. Mr. A., in order to support his family, thinks he should have one dollar per day. Mr. B. does a little calculating and finds he could pay Mr. A. one dollar a day and make quite a profit, but he knows Mr. A. is a poor man and could probably only find work at even less wages, so he offers him seventy-five cents per day. Mr. A., rather than lose the job and be idle, consents to do the work at seventy-five cents, although, justly earning one dollar. What does the Scripture say? “Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a master in heaven.”* (Colossians 4:1) And that “whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”* (Matthew 7:12) It is very sinful to refuse to pay one dollar per day to a laborer for his service when we know it is worth it, and that it would be just and right.

There is a disposition on the part of many employers to secure labor at just as low cost as possible, and a disposition on the part of the laborer to get as high price for his service as possible, consequently there is contention, quarreling, and bitter feeling between employer and employee, oftentimes resulting in strikes and serious trouble. Christianity removes all such trouble and makes everything just and equal. The Christian employee is willing to labor for that which is just and right, and the Christian employer is willing to give him that which is just and right, and thus all trouble is averted. Praise God!