Scripture:
Colossians 3:23-24 ESV
[23] Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, [24] knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Observation:
I know there is not a lot of scripture this morning. This is just where I feel like GOD has led me this morning. Paul’s guidance for this group of people was to work hard. Not as though they were working for man, but like they were working for GOD HIMSELF. I want to think about this for a minute… GOD created everything in this world, and everything in it belongs to HIM…so who really are you working for? Paul knew who his boss was. He was a tent maker. That’s how he made a living. Was he making those tents for man, or was his purpose more profound than that? I believe that, in a sense, what Paul was saying here is… what you do is not nearly as important as how you do it, and if you think you are doing it for the guy who signs your check, you’re wrong. The word diligent comes to mind, so let’s look at its meaning if you don’t mind: having or showing care or conscientiousness in one’s work. Paul knew that if they understood who they really worked for, their work habits would change. They would realize that they were not working for an earthly check but an eternal reward and diligent hands would make the difference.
Application:
What does your work ethic look like?… Can people tell who you are working for by how you perform at work? Do you do everything you do to the absolute best of your ability? I remember when I was young and just entering into the world of work. I always had a better idea than the boss and could outwork anyone in my mind. However every time I was not closely supervised, I would find myself slacking. Or ever cutting corners. I was working for the man. An amazing thing happened in my life about 14 years ago that changed my employer. I asked Jesus into my heart. To be my LORD and SAVIOR. That changed the way I looked at work. I wanted to do my absolute best and to be honest, it bothered me when I didn’t or couldn’t for some reason. I was no longer working for the man… I had a new employer it was the LORD, and how I worked reflected the position HE had in my life. If I was slack in my work. It was a reflection of HIM. If I complained about it, I was complaining about what HE had for me and if I thought I had a better idea well… they would ask. My job was to be diligent and perform the work put in front of me as though I was working for GOD. My life is a reflection of HIM. HE is not slack in HIS work. HE does not complain. HE just does the next, right thing no matter what. With the utmost care. Understanding what it means to proclaim the name of Jesus is vital. When you do so, people start watching. They almost want to see you mess up. That way, they can point and say see I told you it wasn’t real. When we guard our walk with the LORD. It makes that hard to happen, and how we work makes a difference. Diligent hands are just another way to say I love Jesus, and I plan to show it in everything thing I do.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for thinking enough about me to give me a job. I hope I never let you down. Help me to be diligent in all I do, knowing that it’s not for man that I do it but for you. Let me approach everything as though I was working for your kingdom. My life is a reflection of you. Let others see the light that you have placed inside of me as a reflection of the changes you have made in me. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.