A couple of scriptures were reviewed:
- Deuteronomy 8.17-18: "You may say to yourself, 'My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.' But remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your ancestors, as it is today." This is part of Moses' parting speech to the Israelites before they cross over the Jordan into the Promised Land, a land of milk and honey. A land of 'milk and honey' means it could support a lot of cattle and a lot of agriculture. God was providing this land as a fulfillment of a promise. The Israelites were reminded that they shouldn't think they created this opportunity and this success...especially as the generations come and this admonition from Moses may be forgotten. They were considered stewards of the land and riches, charged with ensuring that all people were taken care of--like the Levites who didn't work but shared in the bounty through tithes. Later the land is taken away from them by God because they had forgotten that God ensured their 'success'. Similarly, in business, we could think we've created our own success...rather than realizing that God has entrusted us with His bounty and He could just as likely give it to someone else. Those of us who have suffered some business setbacks, despite our efforts that produced success in the past, fully realize. We are stewards charged to faithfully conduct business according to the Owner's wishes.
- 1 Corinthians 9.9-10: "It is written in the Law of Moses: 'Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.' Is it about oxen that God is concerned? Surely He says this for us, doesn't He? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in hope of sharing in the harvest." One interpretation of this is that oxen are fed but still enjoy a bonus of feeding on some grain when they do work. They're fed for plowing. They're fed for treading. God is requiring that they also enjoy this fruit of their labor, enjoy a bonus when they're creating something of greater value for their owner. Likewise, the commentator might say that employees should benefit from creating value for business owners, beyond wages.
One article suggest that modern businesses provided for health insurance and retirement benefits out of the owners' benevolence. The author forgot all the labor wars of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Even though it touted ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plans) as a way to provide for employees' retirement in a greater way than a 401(k), one point was forgotten: many ESOP companies may not pay wages as high as competitors because the total compensation for ESOPs is greater when a company contribution to the ESOP accounts are provided. Then the question becomes: Are business owners robbing from their employees' deserved pay in order to pay it later in retirement? Are the families struggling as they wait for the expected payout when their old? What happens if the company expires before these people retire?
On those last questions, I think about James 5.1-6 which says, in paraphrase, that if owners cheat or fail to pay their workers there's a special place in Hell for them.
God gave us an ability to make our/His companies successful. God gave talents to His employees to work in His businesses. I think we should be paying His workers not only fair, livable wages (i.e. don't starve the oxen or the fields won't get plowed) but also a profit-sharing bonus. One author suggests that the scriptures suggest we need to worry about our employees' retirement in the spirit of New Testament oikos (household--family and servants). Today, with a nomadic workforce, we don't have an oikos; we are hiring street peddlers. There only here for a short time. We need to pay them appropriately. If we can't do that, maybe there's something wrong with the business models--the sales, marketing, production plans.
Think about it.
