God Cares for Workers
Normally, people do not expect to find much in the book of Leviticus except regulations for sacrifices that have been fulfilled by Jesus. Because of this, we do not put this book in our devotions very often. But scattered throughout the book one can find the heart of God on several different topics. In Leviticus 25:35-55, we find God’s heart for workers and the poor. In order to understand it properly when you read slave, hear, “worker.” Unlike African slavery in the United States, these verses talk about someone who was too poor to afford seed to plant their fields coming to someone with the means and agreeing to work for them for a designated period of time to repay the debt. This is much like most Americans today who, like the bumper sticker, say, “I owe, I owe, so off to work I go.”
First, God said to remember that workers are working to provide for their families or themselves.
This is true today. When we interact with those working for us or serving us, we need to remember that they are not that different from us. We may not work the same job they do, but they deserve dignity and respect because we are just not that different and we certainly want those things from those we serve.
In verses 36 and 37, God told the Israelites to be generous with their workers. In the context, they were not to charge interest on the debts they loaned to them. For us today, it might mean giving a higher-than-normal tip, offering a bonus to our workers where possible, or even just being generous with praise and affirmation.
Additionally, God specifically told them to treat their workers with respect because they all were related and had the same God. While that might not be true today in terms of who they choose to worship or not to worship, we are all human and worth dignity and respect. God told them not to treat them like slaves in 38 and 39.
In verses 40 and 41, God told them to remember that workers have families just like we do.
Similar to the first point, we are to remember that everyone has a story. I wise man once told me, “It is hard to hate someone when you know their story.” Just realizing and remembering that we all have a story is a step towards remembering to respect them.
In verses 42 and 43, the Israelites were told to treat workers with dignity because they are image- bearers of God. While it is true that the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden has so marred that image that no one is able to nor desires to come to God except the Spirit draws him or her, but that does not change the fact that every man, woman, boy and girl have been created in His image and thus, deserve decent treatment regardless of the job in which they are employed.
Verse 53 tells us to treat workers with gentleness and humility. We must remember that they are working for us and doing something for us that we either do not want to do for ourselves or are incapable of doing for ourselves.
Lastly, we need to remember that there is one God and one way to heaven. They may not know that yet. If we do not treat them with dignity and respect, we will forfeit the opportunity to show them and tell them about Jesus. For the Israelites, it was that they had the same God. For us today, there is still only one God, but many do not know it. We need to protect our ability to share with them so that they can belong to God as well.
The next time you go to work or go to a place where you are served, let us keep these things in mind and remember God cares for workers and we should as well.