Colossians 3:22-4.1 says...
Today's verses are Colossians 3:22-4:1, which read,
v.22 - Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
Slavery was a part of ancient society. The Bible is not promoting slavery but rather acknowledging it and that there were people becoming Christians who were in the state of being slaves. Just as wives, husbands, children, and parents needed Biblical instruction so did the slaves who were putting their hands in the hands of Jesus.
We can easily apply these principles to the employee and the employer today. Our service of obedience to our employer is not to be just external. I think you can look at this as obedience that is not just followed when they are present but also an obedience that is not just on the surface for your employer. Your employer is a creation of God and has a soul that needs to hear and see the gospel of Christ and our main witness to them as employees is our work ethic before them. Our obedient work is deeper than just getting the job done for it has an eternal element as we obey God there.
v.23, 24 - Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.
I think this is the most straight forward response to how Christians should work in the workplace. We cannot separate our work as something that this not under the authority of God and therefore His rules of how we are to be apply. Our allegiance to God should not change from Sunday service to Monday workplace. We heartily worship the Lord on Sunday and we heartily work for Him on Monday.
v.25 - For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.
Just because you are a Christian does not mean that you are going to get a pass on the consequences of doing wrong in the marketplace. If you do wrong than the consequences of that wrong are going to be felt, sometimes immediately and sometimes gradually. You are not just doing a wrong but you are sinning against God who is your ultimate employer who you are to be working heartily for or in this case not working heartily for. I got saved and I received a new Lord of my life that is also Lord of my work and therefore my conduct should change if needed to glorify Him in that place with obedience.
4.1 - Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.
Paul ends this section with instruction also to the masters or if we apply it today to the employers who have become Christians. You are to look at your employees as God looks at them. God loves them. God cares for them. God instructs them. God encourages them. God provides for them. God gives them purpose. Just think, you have this unique position to have such an impact on your employees with the gospel witness and again your greatest impact of the gospel to the employees will be with how you treat them in the workplace.
How do you work? How do you manage those who you have authority over? Is it honoring of God? Are His principles and commandments coming out of you if you are an employee or an employer? Sometimes those actions and words are radical in the world we live in and will make an eternal impact by God to those who witness a Christian employee or employer. Let's pray.
"Lord, how much more are we a witness in the workplace just for the sheer fact that we are there for more hours than anyplace else with a common group of people. Just as our families receive that witness so does our workplace and therefore help us to see our employers and employees with Your eyes and work with the passion of You using us to show them You. May You be glorified in our workplace today. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.22 - Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
Slavery was a part of ancient society. The Bible is not promoting slavery but rather acknowledging it and that there were people becoming Christians who were in the state of being slaves. Just as wives, husbands, children, and parents needed Biblical instruction so did the slaves who were putting their hands in the hands of Jesus.
We can easily apply these principles to the employee and the employer today. Our service of obedience to our employer is not to be just external. I think you can look at this as obedience that is not just followed when they are present but also an obedience that is not just on the surface for your employer. Your employer is a creation of God and has a soul that needs to hear and see the gospel of Christ and our main witness to them as employees is our work ethic before them. Our obedient work is deeper than just getting the job done for it has an eternal element as we obey God there.
v.23, 24 - Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.
I think this is the most straight forward response to how Christians should work in the workplace. We cannot separate our work as something that this not under the authority of God and therefore His rules of how we are to be apply. Our allegiance to God should not change from Sunday service to Monday workplace. We heartily worship the Lord on Sunday and we heartily work for Him on Monday.
v.25 - For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.
Just because you are a Christian does not mean that you are going to get a pass on the consequences of doing wrong in the marketplace. If you do wrong than the consequences of that wrong are going to be felt, sometimes immediately and sometimes gradually. You are not just doing a wrong but you are sinning against God who is your ultimate employer who you are to be working heartily for or in this case not working heartily for. I got saved and I received a new Lord of my life that is also Lord of my work and therefore my conduct should change if needed to glorify Him in that place with obedience.
4.1 - Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.
Paul ends this section with instruction also to the masters or if we apply it today to the employers who have become Christians. You are to look at your employees as God looks at them. God loves them. God cares for them. God instructs them. God encourages them. God provides for them. God gives them purpose. Just think, you have this unique position to have such an impact on your employees with the gospel witness and again your greatest impact of the gospel to the employees will be with how you treat them in the workplace.
How do you work? How do you manage those who you have authority over? Is it honoring of God? Are His principles and commandments coming out of you if you are an employee or an employer? Sometimes those actions and words are radical in the world we live in and will make an eternal impact by God to those who witness a Christian employee or employer. Let's pray.
"Lord, how much more are we a witness in the workplace just for the sheer fact that we are there for more hours than anyplace else with a common group of people. Just as our families receive that witness so does our workplace and therefore help us to see our employers and employees with Your eyes and work with the passion of You using us to show them You. May You be glorified in our workplace today. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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