Since Adam and Eve fell away from God’s grace and were exiled from the garden of Eden, man has been decreed to work in order to eat.  Man is mandated to find a means of livelihood to support himself and those who depend on him, such as his family. However, just as God requires man to work, He also requires that man’s work be done in accordance with His will. To violate God’s statutes concerning an honest means of livelihood is evil. One who earns money by dishonest means will be nothing but a fool in the end.

During the time of the Israelites, God rebuked the evil practice of some people who tried to cheat others with dishonest traders. Some earn quick money by guaranteeing with empty promises to deceive unsuspecting people. Example of these are illegal recruiters, fly-by-night companies that collect membership fees then disappear with the money, and such other scams. God’s people should not earn money by doing the same for this will cause them misfortune. Another evil way of raising money which God hates, is resorting to usury. One who lends money and imposes excessive interest on the loan is not actually helping the borrower but is only aggravating the latter’s problem. Such practice is an unjust and sinful way of earning money. Those who do this will surely be held accountable to God. Similarly, borrowers who do not pay will also be held accountable to God. A person who runs away from his obligation to pay is a wicked man in the sight of God.

Employers who hold back the salaries of their workers are in danger of God’s punishment. Workers need to be paid promptly for the wages they eagerly seek. Another malpractice of some breadwinners is stealing. Money can be stolen indirectly by one who spends his work hours in idle chatting instead of using such time in productive work. Lazy workers will eventually end in poverty. Thus to avoid this, workers should be industrious even when their employers are not around to oversee them.