JUST BENEFITS FOR HONEST LABOR
“You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Deuteronomy 25:4 NKJV
In divine thought, labor deserves participation in its fruit, especially by the one who performed it. God does not separate effort from provision, nor does He applaud productivity that is sustained by deprivation.
It is anathema to God for an employer to abuse their position by withholding agreed-upon reward or benefits, particularly after the labor has been rendered. To extract effort while denying sustenance is not wisdom, but injustice posing as efficiency.
We may convince ourselves it is only a few dollars saved, whether it is with the designer whose work we devalue after using it to advance our vision, the young lady who quietly kept things running, the service provider who showed up faithfully yet was left waiting. Scripture reminds us that God sees what we justify, and weighs what we dismiss.
The unmuzzled ox reveals the heart of God, that those who labor under authority are not to be starved by it. Christlikeness is not merely seen in what we produce, but in how fairly we treat those who help produce it. Grace does not exploit; it honors. The gospel forms a people who do not profit at the expense of another’s dignity. Praise God.
Prayer: My Father, I thank you for this truth. May it never be said of us that convenience has outweighed compassion. May we always reflect your justice in how I benefit from the labor of others. Sustain in us the likeness of Christ, who never demanded sacrifice without providing care. May our dealings be marked by fairness, our leadership by mercy, and our success by righteousness. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
CI.
RELATED RESOURCES
• Leviticus 19:13
• Jeremiah 22:13
• Luke 10:7
