Have You Cheated Someone?

For listen! Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. The wages you held back cry out against you. The cries of those who harvest your fields have reached the ears of the LORD of Heaven's Armies. You have spent your years on earth in luxury, satisfying your every desire. You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter. You have condemned and killed innocent people, who do not resist you. James 5:4-6

Meditate. What does God expect of you in the harvest?

 

Fall is here!

Have you cheated someone out of their pay? We are mid-harvest and most of the crops in this agricultural community where I live have been harvested. There are still some potatoes, corn, and grapes, as well as apples and pears to be harvested, but the cherries, wheat, melons, and alfalfa have all been plucked and taken away. Have the field workers been fairly compensated for their work? Many of the workers here are migrant—moving up from Texas to the Canadian border throughout the summer and fall. The calendar says it is Autumn and sure enough, the poplar and other trees are changing color with cooler weather we’ve had in the last couple weeks.

James reminds those living on the earth that they have lived in luxury, satisfying their every desire, and fattened themselves for the day of slaughter. Obesity is such a problem in the United States. Even little children are just plain overweight—fat! Too many calories consumed and too little exercise, as the general population sits in front of their phone, computer, or TV screen. I’m guilty of not enough exercise and a few too many inches around my once tiny waist. Doctors and nutritionists warn that that fat around the middle is what causes heart disease and Type 2 diabetes, neither of which I want to have. This luxury living is not healthy—but neither is smoke from forest fires that invade our area and we con’t control. The smoky air has been my excuse for not getting out and walking on a daily basis. Bad excuse. I don’t feel like I’m cheating anyone—only myself—because my health could be better.  James accuses the people to whom he is speaking that they have condemned and killed innocent people, who do not resist you. That is a pretty stiff accusation. Killed innocent people. Remember that in His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told people that if they even thought of some sinful act, they were guilty of it. (See Matthew 5 as in the example below.)

You have heard that our ancestors were told, 'You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.' But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell. Matthew 5:21-22

We aren’t perfect—but we can be obedient to the Lord and seek His guidance on what we should do and how we should treat others. Can you do that? I know I can do better—yielding my wishes and desires to whatever Jesus wants me to do according to the convictions I feel from the Holy Spirit. James also reminded us that in an earlier verse that to know the right thing to do, and not do it, is sin. See James 4:17.

            Know the right thing? Study God’s word and see what and how He wants us to live and treat each other. Jesus gave His life so that we could live eternally with Him. His sacrifice provided forgiveness for our monumental sins—both of omission and commission. Have you accepted Jesus’ gift of salvation and eternal life? For life here and now, Jesus taught and encouraged people to “Love God. Love others.” That would likely not satisfy the desires of some people. How about you?

 

Prayer – Lord Jesus, thank you for creating us and for Your sacrifice for the sins of mankind. We—or at least I—don’t deserve Your love that redeemed us. I am grateful and don’t want to live to harm anyone…but strive to love God and others. Give me the grace and fill me with Your mercy that I would please You in all that I think, say, and do.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ He was saying to them, "The harvest is abundant [for there are many who need to hear the good news about salvation], but the workers [those available to proclaim the message of salvation] are few. Therefore, [prayerfully] ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest. Luke 10:2 AMP

 

© 2025 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMP),

Copyright ©2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. lockman.org

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