November 14
The Cost
of Greed
"A person who makes life hard for poor people so he can get rich will end up poor himself. A person who gives gifts to rich people will become poor."
Proverbs 22:16 (NIrV)
Patrick stood on the front porch of his farmhouse, gazing across the endless fields of crops. The farm had been in his family for generations, but he had taken it to new heights. Bigger harvests, more land, and most importantly—more profit.
At first, he had hired local workers, but they demanded fair wages, and profits weren’t as high as he wanted. Then, he found a cheaper way. Immigrants, desperate for work, were willing to pick his crops for a fraction of the cost. He paid them under the table, provided cramped and unsanitary housing, and ignored employment laws. Every season, his wealth grew, and so did his reputation. People in town admired his success.
But Patrick ignored the reality of his choices. The men and women working his fields labored under the scorching sun for long hours with little pay. The tiny, broken-down cabins they lived in had no proper heating or plumbing. He justified it by telling himself they were lucky to have any job at all.
Then came the day everything fell apart.
One evening, as Patrick sat at his desk counting profits, he heard a knock at the door. He opened it to find two uniformed officers. “Mr. O’Connor, we need to talk,” one of them said.
Within hours, his farm was swarming with investigators. News stations reported his illegal employment practices, broadcasting images of the horrible living conditions. He watched in shock as his name was dragged through the mud. Customers pulled their contracts. Fines piled up. Workers left.
Sitting in his now-empty office, Patrick buried his face in his hands. He had built his empire on the backs of the poor, and now it was crumbling.
That night, he couldn’t sleep. He opened an old Bible his mother had given him years ago. It had gathered dust on a shelf, but something pulled him toward it now. His eyes landed on Proverbs 22:16: "A person who makes life hard for poor people so he can get rich will end up poor himself."
The words hit him like a punch to the gut. He had done exactly that. He had treated people as tools for his own gain, and now he was left with nothing.
For the first time in years, Patrick prayed. “God, I’ve been selfish. I let greed take over my heart. I see it now, and I don’t want to live like this anymore. Please forgive me. Help me make things right.”
The next day, he met with some of the workers he had wronged. He offered them proper wages, legal contracts, and better housing. It wouldn’t undo the past, but it was a start.
Patrick had lost his fortune, but he gained something more valuable—a heart changed by God.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Forgive us when we let greed and selfishness guide our choices.
Help us to see people the way You see them—as Your precious children, worthy of dignity and respect.
Teach us to use what we have to bless others, not to take advantage of them.
When we stray from Your ways, correct us and bring us back to You.
May we live with honesty, generosity, and a heart that seeks justice.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
