“Eschew The Sin Of Exploitation!”

“Eschew The Sin Of Exploitation!”(Dt.24:14-15).
Dear LORD, thank you for another day!
Folk wisdom says, “The big fishes swallow the smaller ones.” This proverb has nothing to do with fish. It is a lament about the fortunate ones taking advantage of the less fortunate. It is a cry against the rich, the high and mighty taking advantage of the poor, low and weak!
The rich get richer on the sweat of the poor. This may have bern a long standing debate, but I’m on the side that wealth creation depends largely on the exploitation of the lowly who live on minimal wages that barely put food on their table.
Business conglomerates – call it “empire” – is a ruthless, unsympathetic exploitation of a majority to keep a minority in exaggerated luxury and comfort!
It gets worse when even minimum wages are not paid on time or are not paid at all.
Away from the domination system and down to the grassroots: A new normal is to hire children as house helps. We tell the parents of these children that we will see them through school or make them learn a trade. These promises are hardly fulfilled. Yet the house-helps are more than slaves in the home being Jacks of all trades. It pains when these house-helps are the ages of our children. They slave for us and our children. They are ill treated, they don’t eat enough, or they eat stale food. We don’t buy them expensive dresses and we cause them to live under horrible conditions . We force them to pretend that all is well when guests are around or when their parents visit.
We are very committed Christians in our churches, but we do not see anything wrong in us exploiting these children.
When “they cry out to the LORD against you,… you will be guilty of sin.”
My friend, maybe we do these things out of ignorance; but be reminded that ignorance is no excuse before the law.
Today, we are reminded: “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.”
Eschew this sin by paying your workers on time and as agreed.
Prayer of the day and week: Holy Spirit, guide me daily not to take advantage of any hired worker. Let me remind myself daily that they, too, are created in your image. Amen!
Welcome back to a new working day and week! Have a blessed working day and week! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.
02/02/2026.