Today’s Devotion
Topic: Building Without Righteousness.
Text: Jeremiah 22:13.
“Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness and his upper rooms without justice. Who uses his neighbour’s services without pay and does not give him his wages.” Amen.
In today’s world where the economies of many nations have become unstable, it is gradually becoming very common to meet people who have ‘succeeded’ at their fields of endeavour by cutting ends here and there. Some call it ‘being smart’, others term it ‘ways and means’, and many say it is a necessity for survival.
We see nothing wrong with withholding what is due to the people who render one service or the other for us. As long as we can amass some wealth by cutting some ends and denying people what is due them, we’re good to go. People can no longer tell whether working for a ‘Christian’ employer is better than for an unbeliever. Because, the former almost always falls short of what is expected.
But this is what the Word of God says to everyone who has people rendering any form of service to him/her; “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.” (Deuteronomy 24:14,15).
Interestingly, when we use unrighteous means to build or amass wealth, it does not amount to much. This is because we forget that it is the blessings of the Lord that makes us rich; and He adds no sorrow to it.
”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.” (James 5:4) Let us repent of taking undue advantage of people and seek for ways by which we can spur one another unto good works which bring glory to our Father in Heaven.
Meditate on this word and begin to pray. Honesty, humility, giving, hard work and godliness remains the pathway to sustainable blessings. Ask the Lord to magnify all these in you so that your ways might please Him. That way, He opens you up for so much blessings; those that have NO SORROW to it! Build in righteousness and reap life; abundant life.
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