Deuteronomy 25:4 - “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain." (NLT)
Luke 10:7 - Don’t move around from home to home. Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay. (NLT)
1 Timothy 5:18 - For the Scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!” (NLT)
Devotional Series: Business Principles You Didn't Know Were Biblical Principles
Many of us are aware of passages in the New Testament where it quotes verses from the Old Testament. Jesus and Paul did it all the time. Examples include:
Mark 12:30 – ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (NIV)
Deuteronomy 6:5 - Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (NIV)
1 Corinthians 10:26 – For the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof. (KJV)
Psalm 24:1 - The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. (KJV)
Today’s verses present one of those rare passages where the New Testament quotes both the Old Testament and the words of Jesus.
Deuteronomy 25:4 - “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain." (NLT)
Luke 10:7 - Don’t move around from home to home. Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay. (NLT)
1 Timothy 5:18 - For the Scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!” (NLT)
Granted that the passages are talking about those in ministry being paid for their work, it reveals to us that the principle of being paid fairly for the work one does is, one that Jesus taught and subscribed to.
For those of us in entrepreneurship or responsible for HR budgets, it reveals two things to us. Firstly, as employers, we should pay people fairly for the work they do. We should be determined not to cheat people or take advantage of our volunteers. Where possible, all workers should share in the revenue and/or profit of a business. Also, as Jesus points out those in ministry whether it is pulpit ministry or otherwise should be renumerated fairly.
To be clear, I am not saying that there isn’t a place for lay ministry or volunteers in any church or organisation. But what I am saying, is that those in formal employment should be paid for their work and those volunteering should not be taken for granted.
The second thing that these verses point to is that those of us who are freelancers, run some other business venture or are pastors should not be afraid of taking a salary or charging a price to our customers or clients that fits the service we are offering, our experience and the value add to the consumer. There is nothing wrong with being paid and being paid well where appropriate for the organisation. As Jesus said, ‘…….those who work deserve their pay.’
Questions for reflection: Do I honour my staff by paying them what is fit for their work and contribution? Should I consider asking for a pay rise or increasing the price of my product or service offering? Do I believe that my employees deserve fair pay for their work? Do I believe that I should be paid well for my work?
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