A good example is seen in Matt: 20 where a businessman went out early one morning and saw workers standing around in the market. He asked if they wanted to work. He agreed to pay them the normal wage for a day’s work. Three hours later he did the same with other workers agreeing to pay “whatsoever is right” and they agreed and joined the other group. Five hours later he hired another group. At the end of the day he paid them all the same amount! Of course, the first workers were angry since they had worked the longest. He told them that they had nothing to complain about since he did exactly what he said he would do. He asked them, “Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own?” Clearly, in America the answer is “no.”

Incredibly, many people would scream “unfair,” “unreasonable,” and even unconstitutional! And anti-union, for sure. Note that even I showed my prejudice in the above paragraph when I wrote, “Of course, the first workers were angry.” I am all for fairness but I’m much more impressed by keeping one’s word. All workers agreed to the arrangement so they had no right to demand a change in the agreement. There is a purpose for that parable being in the Bible. Many union workers can learn from it and become better people.

Most Americans have been brainwashed into believing that they are entitled to the same wage others are getting for the same work. Ridiculous! No union or government has the right to tell businesspeople how much they have to pay their employees. The owner of the business took the risk, worked hard and long and could possibly lose everything. How asinine for any entity to tell a businessperson how much he must pay a worker.

Would the hired hand be obligated, morally or legally, to subsidize the owner when difficult times come upon the business? Will employees assume some of the risk when the owner has to enlarge his place or purchase new equipment? Will they work longer hours for less pay when bankruptcy looms? I think not.

Government and many unions are tyrants who have assumed authority they don’t rightfully possess, all in the interest of “fairness,” “equality,” and “justice.” But, it is really heavy-handed totalitarianism and it is astounding that clear-thinking people would defend it. Montesquieu observed: “There is no greater tyranny than that which is perpetrated under the shield of law and in the name of justice.” It is tyranny not justice for any government to force a businessperson to pay any benefit or minimum wage.

Each worker is worth only what he produces for the owner. A person who cleans a hospital room is not paid the same as the nurse who cares for the patient and the nurse is not paid as much as the physician. There are three levels of training, work, and responsibility in that hospital room. Even two nurses do not have the moral right to demand the same pay or double their present wage.

Only an owner knows how much a job is worth to him. It doesn’t matter what some do-gooder, union boss, or government bureaucrat says. Moreover, if an increased wage is good for the workers and the economy then why not increase the minimum wage to $50 per hour? That’s far more “fair” than $15 per hour.

Not only is it immoral for anyone to demand a minimum wage, it will always result in unemployment especially among threshold workers. If a worker does not produce more profit than his salary then he will be fired. The owner will adjust by working more hours himself, raise prices, or cut some benefits or restrict hours of operation. After all, he must make a profit. He does not run a non-profit business nor is he in business to provide a workplace for employees. He is in business to make money. No money, no business.

It would be wise for honest, decent people who really believe in fairness to understand that they can earn more by making themselves more valuable to their employer. He or she should become so valuable that the owner feels a need to pay more to keep another business owner from hiring his employee away from him with the promise of higher wages. Excel, excel, excel.

No, Christ would not seek to force a business owner to pay more especially to employees who usually only do what is required of them to get by. John commanded in Luke 3:14 “Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.”

So workers should stop trying to strong-arm their boss and do more than is expected of them and be satisfied with their salary. And stop whining about perceived fairness. Life is never fair.

http://bit.ly/1iMLVfY Watch these 8 minute videos of my lecture at the University of North Dakota: “A Christian Challenges New Atheists to Put Up or Shut Up!”

I used to feel like the cartoon character carrying a sign with an ominous message on front and back: “Prepare: The End is Near.” I’m not alone anymore. Famous money man, Jim Rodgers said, “Be prepared, be worried, and be careful.” He told the media, “Eventually, the whole world is going to collapse.” He declared, “This is going to end badly.” That’s what I’ve been saying, but few have listened, even those close to me have thought I had run off the rails.

In preparation for bad days ahead, I suggest that everyone develop a second profession or trade. A lawyer should learn carpet laying; a physician should learn plumbing; an accountant should learn carpentry; and a salesman should learn small engine repair. When survival is the major concern, people will not use lawyers, physicians, and accountants except in extreme situations. Everyone should have a part-time income since every job is insecure. Furthermore, everyone should plant a garden, and not only to have nutritious food to eat but to have any food to eat.

Make plans now to get out of debt personally and corporately. Churches and businesses should start debt retirement projects. If I were a pastor of a church that owned multiple acres, I would seriously consider selling a few acres to pay off the debt. I would look closely at any major expenditure. Of course, churches cannot put every expansion program on hold and not make moves that circumstances require, but I would move slowly with any building program whether for a church, a family, or a business.

Moreover, you cannot count on your pension plan being available or sufficient to replace your working income because your 401 (k) plan may end up worth $401.00 to finance your retirement! Consequently, don’t plan on retiring! Retirement is never found in the Scripture. Adam was to work to the day of his death. There is something carnal about waiting all your life until the day when you can lie around all the time, fishing, hunting, and generally playing. Of course, bad health may force you to retire.

Moreover, those under 50 are very foolish or naïve if they plan on Social Security to provide the necessary retirement income. Work is in your future, and a wise move on your part would be to plan for that now. If not, plan to be a stock “boy” at the local supermarket, greeter at Wal-Mart or item checker at Sam’s.

Regarding investments, what should prudent Americans do about a major financial and social catastrophe that is about to hit us right between the eyes? After getting out of debt, you should consider selling your stock and bonds or buying mutual funds that provide a guaranteed minimum for a premium. Take any temporary rise in prices as an opportunity to sell any stocks except possibly precious metals or energy stocks. Sell your stocks and bonds; after all, something is better than nothing.

If (when) total financial collapse comes, the cities will be madhouses, so make plans to get your family to safety—that means at least 20-30 miles from a metropolitan area. Property values are still reasonable in small towns and a wise investment might be to buy a rental where you could move to when dangerous times arrive. On the other hand, you could buy a lot on a lake or a mountainside and put a mobile home on it. You could always rent it or retire there if the future turns rosy.

We are already seeing three generations living in the same house because of lack of jobs and the difficulty in renting or buying a house. DUMPies—Destitute Unprepared Mature People will be everywhere. Few people will drive a new car and vacations will be short, or non-existent. People will once again learn to “make do” with what they have.

It would be prudent to purchase some freeze-dried food from some survival outfit and a few five-gallon cans of wheat and corn. The food you ate today traveled 1500 miles to get to your table. If “peaceful” terrorists hit delivery trucks or bridges and tunnels leading to major cities, will food and fuel be transported? You should also have many gallons of water packed away for an emergency. Most people think such suggestions are extreme, but when you face those times, you won’t think so.

Our grandparents would not have considered having empty pantries. After all, disasters do happen, don’t they? A wise person plans for all contingencies as much as is possible. If the water is not used, pour it on your garden, and eat the stored food. After all, the price of food will not go down.

If there is a financial collapse, you can count on a breakdown of law and order. Surely, there is no question about that. In event of riots, it would be wise to have a couple of guns and ammo available! What, a Christian shooting someone? Yes, in my home it will happen if necessary. If a mob kicks down my door, be assured that they will be shot. If you knock on my door asking for food, you will be fed but if you kick down my door, you will be dead! Then I will expect a commendation from the governor for doing all people in Georgia a favor!

It is very Christian to protect your family.

Copyright 2013, Don Boys, Ph.D.

http://bit.ly/1iMLVfY Videos of my lecture at the University of North Dakota, “A Christian Challenges New Atheists to Put Up or Shut Up!” Watch and pass them on!