#84 Wages Genesis 30

And it came to pass, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, "send me away, that I may go to my own place and to my country. Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go; for you know my service which I have done for you." And Laban said to him, "please stay, if I have found favor in your eyes, for I have learned by experience that the Lord has blessed me for your sake." Then he said, "name me your wages, and I will give it." So Jacob said to him, "you know how I have served you and how your livestock has been with me. For what you had before I came was little, and it has increased to a great amount; the Lord has blessed you since my coming. And now, when shall I also provide for my own house?" Genesis 30: 25-30 NKJV

Jacob has served Laban for fourteen years and desires to return home. What started as being impressed by his young relatives ability as a herdsmen, has changed to an understanding that Jacob is blessed. Laban has been blessed because of Jacob, and so he wishes for Jacob to stay. Jacob would like to return home but Laban detains him once again. It is a very common ploy. I have worked for men in the past that will not give so much as a thank you for your blood and sweat, but the moment you have the opportunity to improve your family's situation elsewhere, they offer more wages. Laban realizes he is blessed by Jacob being there, but his greed blinds him from the right thing. It is no secret that Jacob wants to return to the land of his people, and Laban has increased from little to great under his son in law's management. He should have been increasing Jacob all along since he acknowledges that his own great increase has come from God by Jacob. God would have blessed him for blessing Jacob, but God does not soften Laban's heart to let them leave in such a manner. Jacob may be disappointed and not feel respected, but he did receive the wages he asked for both times. Laban is probably patting himself on the back for being a shrewd business man, but he is not honorable. 

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. In deed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you. James 5:1-6 NKJV

That's why it always better to work unto the Lord, for men will not fail in this, that they are corruptible. Be careful when you judge your employees remembering that you cannot stand under scrutiny yourself.  When the time comes that you have no choice other than discipline, do it with a sober mind, and if it becomes easy to punish then it is time for you to step down.