James 5:4-6, “4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.”
One major way corporate greed occurs is when companies make a surplus of money by abusing and stealing from their employees. The abuse can come in the form of long hours without breaks in harsh working conditions known as “sweatshops.” Sweatshops refer to the work environment of many third world countries that are set up by rich companies in the West to make products with the lowest cost at the expense of the workers so they then can sell their products in the West for enormous profits.
Most of the time these workers are uneducated and have very little rights so they cannot negotiate with the big company for better work environments and hours because the company will simply fire them and hire another willing person. As a result, the poor workers are treated more as slaves than employees and are forced into a lifetime of servitude.
These companies also steal from their employees by not paying acceptable wages and offering proper health benefits like insurance or hospital care. This kind of “robbery” not only happens in poor countries but can also be seen in the US when large companies purposely keep employees at part time so they do not have to pay for their health benefits or give them raises.
James pointed out in the passage above that the greedy owners could do better for their employees and still make a profit. However, because of their greed they try to squeeze every penny out of their employees so they can make more money and rule over them.
A better solution would be to still have capitalism (free market without government control of the economy like with “socialism/communism”), but with laws and regulations that protect the workers and insure they are getting a fair pay with affordable health benefits.
Here are three things you can do to stand against corporate greed, (1) Don’t support companies that are known to treat their employees unfairly; (2) Vote for godly leaders to make laws that protect the average worker and limit corporate greed and oppression. For example, you can support laws that increase the minimum wage, require health care for workers, and close loop holes that big companies use to steal money from the government and their people; and lastly, (3) Pray that both the workers and owners will live by the golden rule, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you!”
Reflection
Do you believe companies should treat their workers fairly?
Action
- Clearly explain from the Bible why corporate greed is a sin.
- Pray for God to expose and bring an end to greedy companies and their leaders.
- For more information regarding corporate greed read the following books, “Rescuing Capitalism from Corporatism,” by John David Rose and “Business for the Glory of God,” by Wayne Grudem.
