Bible Questions Answered:
There's a big flap about having unions or not having unions, and other questions. What does the Bible say about such labor conditions.
Terry/ Milwaukee, Wisconsin U.S.A.
Bible Answer:
Employers and their responsibility to their employees:
Deuteronomy 24:14,15 KJV
14 “Never take advantage of poor and destitute laborers, whether they are fellow Israelites or foreigners living in your towns.
15 You must pay them their wages each day before sunset because they are poor and are counting on it. If you don’t, they might cry out to the Lord against you, and it would be counted against you as sin.
Exodus 20:10 NLT
But the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you
Leviticus 19:9,13 NLT
9 “When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop.
13 “Do not defraud or rob your neighbor.
Matthew 8:5,13 KJV
5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto Him a centurion, beseeching Him,
13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
Luke 3:10,13 NLT (John the Baptist)
10 The crowds asked, “What should we do?”
13 He replied, “Collect no more taxes than the government requires.”
Ephesians 6:9 KJV
And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with Him.
Colossians 4:1 KJV
Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
Galatians 6:1,10 KJV
1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Employees responsibility to their employer:
Leviticus 19:15,18 KJV
15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbor.
18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the LORD.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 KJV
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
Luke 3:14 KJV (John the Baptist.)
And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
Ephesians 6:5-7 KJV
5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
6 Not with eye service, as men pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
Colossians 3:22-25 KJV
22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye service, as men pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God;
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
I Thessalonians 4:9-12 KJV
9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren...
11 And...do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
Timothy 6:1,2 KJV
1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and His doctrine be not blasphemed.
2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.
Titus 2:9 KJV
Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;
I Peter 2:18-20 KJV
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
19 For this is thank worthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
Employees and Employers, should avoid divisions.
Romans 16:17,18 KJV
17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
I Thessalonians 5:14,15 KJV
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
Employees and Employers, should support one another.
Luke 6:31 KJV
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
Galatians 6:2 KJV
Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Romans 15:1,2 KJV
1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
2 Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification.
Employee and, employer, God is over all.
I Samuel 2:7 NLT
The Lord makes some poor and others rich; He brings some down and lifts others up.
John 13:34 KJV
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
John 17:20-23 KJV
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in Me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent Me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved Me.
