Who Do You Work For?
Readings for the Day
1 Kings 20-21, 2 Chronicles 17, Colossians 3
Verses for the Day
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Although these verses are specifically written to the slaves in Colossae, it has wider application for all those who work for someone. Sometimes people wonder where God is at in the every day grind of their jobs. Paul tells the slaves in his day to keep working hard for their earthly master, as they would their heavenly master. Notice it says, "whatever you do". You don't have to be a full time minister to serve the Lord. The reality is every day Paul tells us to serve our master. Each day we are to die to ourselves, and put on our new self which has been clothed in Christ.
Though God has chosen us and saved us, we still each day make a choice to serve God wherever he puts us. From the janitor to the chairman of the board, every one of us takes our marching orders from Jesus, who showed his greatness by his service to all humankind. Jesus humbled himself, and counted others as better than himself. And he was the Son of God! If the Son of God can wash the disciples feet, do you think anything is beneath us as his disciples? So whatever we do, we work at it with all our heart. We give out best for God's best. We take pride in our work, because it is a reflection of God's work.
Then Paul ends this passage with an amazing promise. At the end of our lives, when we have faithfully served others as if serving our Lord, we will receive an inheritance. As Jesus' faithful servants here on earth, he has saved up for us a reward that will last forever. So the next time you are frustrated with your job or your boss, remember that your true boss is a Jewish carpenter. And though Jesus emptied himself and became a servant unto death, God raised him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand the seat of power. And when Jesus returns one day, He will bring His servants to be with him and enjoy their inheritance forever.
1 Kings 20-21, 2 Chronicles 17, Colossians 3
Verses for the Day
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Although these verses are specifically written to the slaves in Colossae, it has wider application for all those who work for someone. Sometimes people wonder where God is at in the every day grind of their jobs. Paul tells the slaves in his day to keep working hard for their earthly master, as they would their heavenly master. Notice it says, "whatever you do". You don't have to be a full time minister to serve the Lord. The reality is every day Paul tells us to serve our master. Each day we are to die to ourselves, and put on our new self which has been clothed in Christ.
Though God has chosen us and saved us, we still each day make a choice to serve God wherever he puts us. From the janitor to the chairman of the board, every one of us takes our marching orders from Jesus, who showed his greatness by his service to all humankind. Jesus humbled himself, and counted others as better than himself. And he was the Son of God! If the Son of God can wash the disciples feet, do you think anything is beneath us as his disciples? So whatever we do, we work at it with all our heart. We give out best for God's best. We take pride in our work, because it is a reflection of God's work.
Then Paul ends this passage with an amazing promise. At the end of our lives, when we have faithfully served others as if serving our Lord, we will receive an inheritance. As Jesus' faithful servants here on earth, he has saved up for us a reward that will last forever. So the next time you are frustrated with your job or your boss, remember that your true boss is a Jewish carpenter. And though Jesus emptied himself and became a servant unto death, God raised him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand the seat of power. And when Jesus returns one day, He will bring His servants to be with him and enjoy their inheritance forever.
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