Scripture:
Colossians 3:22-25 NKJV
[22] Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. [23] And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, [24] knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. [25] But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.
Observation:
The letter to the Colossia church is not very long. You can read it from start to finish in less than 30 minutes. However, the instructions and guidance found in it are very valuable and call us to shine our perspective. Here in Colossians chapter 3, Paul is guiding the church in their perspective about working. Let’s first get an idea about what a bondservant is. You might think this is a slave and you would be right in some aspects. A bondservant is a slave who has fulfilled his contract as a slave and decided to continue to work for the master for whatever reason. In short, a bondservant is an employee in today’s terms. So I believe what Paul says here is that when you are asked to do something as an employee, you should do it. And do it the way the boss asked you to. All the time, not just when he is watching and not to please the boss but because you are working for GOD. You see, Paul must have had a reason to believe that the bondservants in Colossia would work hard when the master was around, but once he left, they would slack off. So he felt it necessary to correct it. Reminding them it’s not a man that they are working for. If they called themselves a follower of Christ, it was GOD HIMSELF they were employed by. Everything they did would be seen by HIM. So it should be done as though GOD was right there with them, and in all reality, HE was. GOD is omnipresent. HE is everywhere all the time. So what Paul was leading them to do was simply work hard because GOD was watching. Verse 24 takes the focus away from the world and gives it an eternal perspective. Paul is telling these bondservants that being able to survive is a byproduct of the work they do their real rewards are from the Father in heaven. The last verse in the reading this morning is verse 25, and it simply states the truth. “But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done.” I don’t know how to break that down any easier. You reap what you sow… you get what you give… GOD is a just GOD.
Application:
It’s easy to want to slack off when the boss is not around. But what if we didn’t work for man but for GOD? What if HE saw everything? If you read the same bible, I do you know HE does. HE sees what we do behind closed doors, the things no one else knows GOD does. What does your work ethic say about your relationship with Jesus? If HE were standing right next to you watching you. Would it change anything about how you work? Do you take advantage of the fact that you believe no one is watching? As believers and followers of Jesus, our work ethic should be a cut above. Honestly, we are not working for a paycheck. We are working for the king. If we are consistently late or want to leave early. It’s a reflection of our relationship with Jesus. We should be doing everything we do to the absolute best of our ability. It’s not a man that we work for. It’s GOD. I took the liberty of putting a label on my truck that holds me to a level of integrity I can’t hide from. Everyone sees it. In fact, I have been asked by people I have never met standing in line if I am the guy who drives the Christ-like carpentry truck. I think about that as I go speeding by Home Depot because the men at the job need something I forgot. The last time I was there. With that label, the world is watching. It should be at the forefront of my mind. That I am not working for man. When men see me, they need to see a reflection of Jesus, and if they don’t, it’s not HIS fault it’s mine. That means something needs to change in me. We should let the word of GOD shape us it doesn’t change. It’s the same today as it was yesterday. Our integrity speaks of our relationship with Jesus. What we do when no one is watching is seen by HIM. That should make us walk a little straighter. It should change how we work. What we present is a reflection of who HE is in us. What unbelievers believe about Christ is what we show them to be true. What does your work ethic say about your relationship with Jesus?
Prayer:
Father, help us to walk with integrity. We want to paint a picture of you that is good. We know that because we call ourselves Christ followers. We are held to a higher standard. Help us to walk according to that standard. Mold us and shape us according to your word. Let our life reflect that your SON has redeemed us. Making us a new creation. We want to do right by you. Help us to understand your word in order to do so. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus. I pray, amen.