WORKING FOR THE LORD – Colossians 3:22-4:1

Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on May 29, 2013 under AM Bible Study |

AM Bible Study Group; May 29, 2013

Colossians 3:22-4:1

Theme: God calls us to do our work and conduct our work relationships as under the lordship of Jesus Christ.

(Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version; copyright 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc.)

We’re living in a day and age in which people are suspicious of claims to absolute truth. Sociologists refer to our day as a ‘post-modernist’ age—one in which people place more faith in what they “see” and “feel” than in what they were taught to believe. Rather than closing people to the truth entirely, however, this may actually open them up to a hearing of the gospel—if an authentic Christianity is what they see lived out in daily life in front of them.

This morning’s passage reminds us that one of the most important areas in which we’re to demonstrate the lordship of Jesus Christ is our work life. Jesus Christ must be the sovereign Lord over our work relationships because, in most cases, that’s the only place unbelieving people have contact with God’s redeemed saints. If we looked at such passages as Ephesians 6:5-8, 1 Timothy 6:1-2, Titus 2:9-10 and 1 Peter 2:18-20, we’d find that this is a major theme in Scripture. God calls us to do our work carefully so that neither the name of God nor His doctrine of salvation is spoken of badly. We’re to do our work with the kind of zeal we’d have if we knew that Jesus Christ was actually going to work with us; and as if we were doing our work under His direct orders, through His enabling power, and as unto Him—because, in fact, we are!

I. THE COMMAND TO SERVANTS (3:22-25).

A. Paul writes; “Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh . . .” (v. 22) Though Paul speaks specifically of “bondslaves”, his instruction would have application to any situation that would involve work relationships that require a task to be performed under the authority or supervision of someone else—whether it be in an employee/employer relationship, or a student/teacher relationship, or as a volunteer in an organization or committee, or in military service. The command, in all such relationships, is to “obey in all things”. Our chief obedience, of course, is to be given to our chief Master, Jesus Christ. But it’s under His ultimate authority that we are to serve in obedience to those whom He places over us in positions of temporal authority—”masters according to the flesh”, as Paul here calls them. As Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:5; “Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ . . .”

B. Note how this command is to be obeyed:

1. We’re to obey them thoroughly—that is, “in all things” (v. 22a). In whatever area they hold authority over us, we are to do all that they tell us. A very effective way to gage how thoroughly one is doing their work as if for the Lord would be to ask whether or not they were fulfilling their employer’s specific expectations. As believers, are we being a source of encouragement and satisfaction to our employer? Or are we a source of frustration? How differently would we seek to fulfill the expectations of our job if those expectations came from the Lord Jesus Himself? We are to be submitted to our employer, and seek to fulfill his or her expectations as thoroughly as if we were serving the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. We’re to obey them sincerely. Paul writes, “not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God” (v. 22b). “Eyeservice” suggests the kind work that is done only superficially—that is, only so as to appear to have done what was required in the sight of men. It’s the kind of mentality that ‘sweeps the dirt under the rug’. It’s the kind of mentality that does only the minimum amount required for appearance’s sake. It’s the kind of mentality that only picks-up the work pace when being watched. Paul expresses the motivation behind this when he warns us against being mere “men-pleasers”—that is, only doing the kind of work that would be sufficiently pleasing to men; while ignoring the fact that our performance was displeasing in the sight of our all-seeing, all-knowing Lord. When Paul commands that we do our work “in sincerity of heart, fearing God”, he means that we are to do our work with a sense of “singleness”—that is, in an undivided way. We work the same way whether we’re unsupervised, or closely scrutinized. And the reason is because we’re doing it out of reverence or ‘fear’ of the Lord. We know that He is watching; and we want to be pleasing to Him. If we truly do our work as to the Lord first of all, and not as if only unto men, then we’ll consistently be ‘the real thing’ in the way we do it—both before God and men..

3. We’re to obey them “heartily”. You know the old joke—”Working hard, or hardly working?” We’ll, we’re to be “heartily” working. Paul writes, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (v. 23). In the original language of this letter, Paul actually says to do our work from “out of your soul”—that is, from genuine inward motivations, and not merely from external pressures or for outward rewards. The secret is to do our work in complete submission and surrender to the Lord Jesus; recognizing that we do our work for Him and out of love to Him. We get bitter and resentful in our work when we do it for the wrong “lord”—that is, we’re doing it for mere human beings or for mere money. But even the most menial and humble task—when done for the Lord—becomes a sacred work of service and a real cause for joy.

4. We’re to do our work reverently. Paul goes on to say to do all this, “knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ” (v. 24). We’re to do our work with an anticipation, not merely on the mere monetary paycheck we’ll receive for our work, but for the eternal rewards that come from faithfully serving Christ. Think of it! Jesus Christ is concerned with how we do our jobs, promises to reward us eternally for being faithful employees under His lordship. The Bible tells us, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:17). It urges us, “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:9-10). “But”, as Paul also goes on to say, “he who does wrong will be repaid for what He has done, and there is no partiality” (v. 25); and he similarly says in his letter to the Ephesians, “knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free” (Ephesians 6:8). It’s an exhortation that applies to both servants and masters with equal force. God isn’t a respecter of someone’s rank or position. All who do good will be rewarded for the good they do; and all who do evil will be rewarded for the evil they do—without partiality.

II. THE COMMAND TO MASTERS (4:1).

A. This leads us, naturally, to Paul’s words to “masters”. “Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.” The same attitude of submission to Christ that should characterize a Christian employee should also characterize a Christian employer or supervisor. A faithful witness for Jesus Christ also must be exhibited in the way believing employers or supervisors treats those who work for them.

B. This is to be manifested in two ways:

1. They must be “fair”. In the original language of his letter, the word Paul uses means “to give” or “to grant” what is just and fair; and the idea behind that word involves showing or exhibiting one’s self to be a just and fair person. It’s not enough for an employer to merely say that they are just and fair in their dealings with those under them; but he or she must “show” themselves to be just and fair. They should be reasonable and respectful in the way they treat their employees. They should pay them a just and fair wage—not trying to get the most out of them for the least amount of pay possible. They should pay their employees on time; and be respectful of their needs to balance family and leisure time with their work schedule. They should treat their employees the way the Lord Jesus treats His servants.

2. They too must be “reverent”. A submission to Christ should characterize their work of management and leading. They’re to do their work, as Paul says, “knowing that you also have a Master in heaven”. A believing employer or supervisor—like the believing employee—should recognize that he or she doesn’t work for themselves, but for the Lord Jesus Christ. All their dealings with their employees should be conducted in the way that Jesus would have them be conducted—with a sense of primary submission to the Lord Jesus Christ, and with a desire to fulfill their responsibilities in a way that’s pleasing to Him. As Paul puts it in Ephesians 6:9, “And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.” Both, ultimately, work for the same glorious Master.

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May we never forget that the way we perform on the job is a living “gospel tract”—one that is being read by people all around us. May we never forget that the Lord Jesus Himself goes on the job with us; and that we work for Him. And whether we are in the “bondservant” role, or the “master” role, or even a combination of the two; may we always do our work faithfully, “as to the Lord and not to men”.