No one likes to feel used, and the Bible is very clear on the issue of taking advantage of others. Scripture calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves and warns against exploiting or manipulating others for personal gain. But how do we ensure that we are treating people with fairness and respect? Let’s explore what the Bible says about taking advantage of others and how we can live in a way that honors God and shows love to those around us.
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What Does The Bible Say About Taking Advantage Of Others
Proverbs 14:21
“Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.”
This verse reminds us that despising or taking advantage of our neighbors is a sinful act. Instead, we are encouraged to be generous and compassionate towards the poor, showing kindness and empathy rather than exploiting them.
James 5:4
“Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.”
This verse serves as a warning to those who unjustly withhold wages from their workers through fraudulent means. It emphasizes that God hears the cries of those who have been taken advantage of, and justice will be served.
Proverbs 28:3
“A poor man who oppresses the poor is a beating rain that leaves no food.”
This verse highlights the hypocrisy of a poor person who takes advantage of those in similar circumstances. It compares their oppressive actions to a destructive rain that leaves no sustenance, indicating that such behavior is harmful and ultimately self-defeating.
Proverbs 22:16
“Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.”
This verse warns against oppressing the poor for personal gain or showing favoritism towards the rich. It asserts that those who engage in such actions will eventually face their own downfall, experiencing poverty rather than prosperity.
Proverbs 11:26
“The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.”
This verse reflects the consequences of withholding resources from others. People will curse those who selfishly hoard grain, while those who are generous and fair in their transactions will receive blessings and favor.
Proverbs 22:22-23
“Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate, for the Lord will plead their cause and rob of life those who rob them.”
These verses emphasize the divine justice that awaits those who exploit and mistreat the poor. God will act as their advocate, punishing those who rob them of their dignity, rights, and livelihood.
Proverbs 28:8
“Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit gathers it for him who is generous to the poor.”
This verse warns against unethical financial practices that exploit others for personal gain. It suggests that accumulating wealth through interest and profit will ultimately benefit those who are generous to the poor, emphasizing the importance of fair and compassionate dealings.
Ezekiel 22:12
“In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take interest and profit and make gain of your neighbors by extortion; but me you have forgotten, declares the Lord God.”
In this verse, God denounces the corrupt and exploitative actions of the people. They engage in bribery, shed blood, extort their neighbors for personal gain, and forsake God. It serves as a reminder that such behavior is not only morally wrong but also disregards the Lord.
Amos 4:1
“Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to your husbands, ‘Bring, that we may drink!’”
This verse uses figurative language to rebuke the wealthy women in Samaria who exploit the poor and prioritize their own indulgence. It exposes their selfishness and lack of compassion towards those in need.
Jeremiah 22:17
“But you have eyes and heart only for your dishonest gain, for shedding innocent blood, and for practicing oppression and violence.”
Jeremiah condemns the wicked rulers who are solely focused on their dishonest profits, even resorting to shedding innocent blood and perpetuating oppression and violence. It reveals the consequences of their greed and disregard for justice.
Proverbs 21:13
“Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.”
This verse highlights the importance of attentiveness and compassion towards the cries of the poor. Those who choose to ignore their pleas will find themselves in a situation where their own cries for help go unanswered.
Isaiah 3:14-15
“The Lord will enter into judgment with the elders and princes of his people:’ It is you who have devoured the vineyard, the spoil of the poor is in your houses. What do you mean by crushing my people, by grinding the face of the poor?” declares the Lord God of hosts.’
These verses depict God’s righteous judgment upon the leaders who have exploited the poor and oppressed God’s people. The Lord confronts them for enriching themselves at the expense of the vulnerable and inflicting pain on the poor.
Isaiah 10:1-2
“Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees, and the writers who keep writing oppression, to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right.”
This verse pronounces a warning upon those who enforce unjust laws and write oppressive decrees that hinder the poor from receiving justice. God identifies this conduct as a violation of the rights of the poor.
Proverbs 28:27
“Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.”
This verse highlights the blessings that come with giving to the poor. Those who are generous will not lack, while those who turn a blind eye to the needs of the impoverished will face the consequences of their indifference.
Psalm 12:5
“‘Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise,’ says the Lord; ‘I will place him in the safety for which he longs.’
These words assure us of God’s justice and intervention on behalf of the poor and needy. He promises to arise and provide them with the safety and security they yearn for, countering the oppression they face.
Zechariah 7:9-10
“Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.’
These verses convey God’s expectations for His people. He desires that they exercise fairness, compassion, and mercy towards one another, and specifically commands them not to oppress vulnerable groups such as widows, orphans, strangers, and the poor.
Psalm 146:7-9
“…who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous.”
These verses depict the character of God as one who champions justice, feeds the hungry, sets prisoners free, restores sight to the blind, and uplifts the downtrodden. It reveals His deep love for the righteous and His commitment to addressing the needs of the oppressed.
Leviticus 19:13
“You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning.”
This verse instructs the Israelites to treat their neighbors justly by not oppressing or robbing them. It specifically addresses timely payment of wages, ensuring that hired workers receive their due compensation promptly.
Proverbs 17:5
“Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.”
This verse highlights the severity of mocking and insulting the poor. It emphasizes that such behavior is an offense against God, and those who take pleasure in the misfortune of the poor will face consequences for their cruelty.
Exodus 22:22-23
“You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry.”
God’s commandments include the mandate to treat widows and orphans with kindness and fairness. He assures that if they are mistreated and cry out for help, He will attentively listen and respond to their pleas.
Job 20:19-20
“For he has crushed and abandoned the poor; he has seized a house that he did not build. ‘Because he knew no contentment in his belly, he will not let anything in which he delights escape him.’
These verses describe the actions of an oppressor who has taken advantage of the poor by seizing a house unjustly. The passage indicates that their insatiable greed and lack of contentment will lead them to relentlessly pursue whatever they desire, disregarding the rights and welfare of others.
James 2:6-7
“But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?”
These verses condemn the preferential treatment given to the rich while dishonoring the poor. The passage questions the contradiction of showing favor to the wealthy, who are often the very ones responsible for oppressing and mistreating the believers.
Amos 8:4-6
“Hear this, you who trample on the needy and bring the poor of the land to an end, saying, ‘When will the new moon be over, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may offer wheat for sale, that we may make the ephah small and the shekel great and deal deceitfully with false balances, that we may buy the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals and sell the chaff of the wheat?”
These verses address the exploitative practices of those who take advantage of the poor and manipulate circumstances for personal gain. They expose their greed, deceit, and disregard for justice, all at the expense of the vulnerable in society.
Proverbs 22:7
“The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.”
This verse acknowledges the power dynamics between different socioeconomic classes. It highlights the risk of becoming enslaved to lenders when one is in debt and emphasizes the potential for exploitation by the wealthy over the poor.
Jeremiah 5:26-28
“For wicked men are found among my people; they lurk like fowlers lying in wait. They set a trap; they catch men. Like a cage full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; therefore they have become great and rich; they have grown fat and sleek. They know no bounds in deeds of evil; they judge not with justice the cause of the fatherless, to make it prosper, and they do not defend the rights of the needy.”
These verses expose the wickedness prevalent among God’s people. It depicts a society where deceit, exploitation, and injustice thrive, allowing the unscrupulous to amass wealth and power at the expense of the vulnerable.
Amos 2:6-7
“Thus says the Lord: ‘For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals—those who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth and turn aside the way of the afflicted; a man and his father go in to the same girl, so that my holy name is profaned; they lay themselves down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge.”
These verses pronounce judgment upon Israel for their various transgressions, including selling the innocent for material gain and callously mistreating the poor. It reveals the depth of their depravity and their dishonoring of God’s holy name through their actions.