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Love in All We Do
“You’ve probably never heard of Wilbert Williams. He’s not famous or rich. Still, Williams received an honor normally reserved for the connected, powerful, and wealthy. On December 2, 2004, the city of Chicago designated a street as Wilbert Williams Way. The honor is in celebration of his upcoming retirement.
“What did someone as unknown as Williams do to deserve such a tribute? The question becomes even more compelling when you realize that for nearly 40 years, Wilbert Williams has worked at the Woman’s Athletic Club as a doorman. Normally, an honorary street sign goes to people who get the door held open for them—not to the one holding the door.
“What set Williams apart? He has carried out his duties in an exemplary fashion. Police Officer Paul O’Donnell said, ‘In all these years, I’ve never heard him speak a harsh word about anyone. He’s a gentleman.’ Through his kindness and service to others, Williams made an impact on those who he met at the corner of Michigan and Ontario. Commenting on why he has always helped tourists, pointing them in the right direction, Williams says, ‘If I was in a different city, I’d like someone to help me.’
“Having a street named after you is impressive. How much greater the honor God promises to give to those who serve Him well, an eternal inheritance that will never spoil or fade away.”
What Should the Believer’s Work Life Look Like
“Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Col. 3:22-23).
The word “servants” (v. 22) refers to a slave. When Paul wrote Colossians, slavery was widespread in the Roman Empire. There are differences between the institutions of ancient slavery and modern employment. However, the practical principles given by Paul for servants and masters can be applied to the employee employer relationship of our day.
Much of our lives is given to work. For the majority of us, most weeks and days are given to a job or some kind of work. Work is a significant part of who we are and what we give ourselves to, day in and day out, year in and year out. If you spend 40 hours a week on the job for 50 weeks a year, between the ages of 18 and 65, you will amass 94,000 hours on the job. God cares about what you do with all that time and has instructions for it.
In verses 22-23, Paul gives instructions for the believer who is under the authority of another in the workplace, and Paul answers the question, “What should the believer’s work-life look like?” For many believers, God has called for the workplace to be their primary mission field. It is where we spend the most time and often where we are around the most people. The way we work is a testimony to a watching world.
1. Obedience
“Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh…” (Col. 3:22).
A couple of verses earlier, Paul wrote, “Children, obey your parents in all things…” (v. 20). Then in verse 22, he wrote, “Servants, obey in all things….” This shows that the obedience the child learns from their parents in the home is important for the future obedience that they will need in the workplace.
For the employee, there is to be obedience to our “masters according to the flesh.” There is a subtle reminder here by Paul that these masters are only masters according to the flesh, meaning the believer has another Master Who is far above all (Col. 1:18). And before Him, believing employees owe submission and obedience to their employers or supervisors. Obedience in the workplace is ultimately obedience to the Lord. Of course, this instruction is not suggesting that the believer compromise his or her faith, do something contrary to God’s Word, or break the law. The point is that God wants us to respect and cooperate with the people we work for and to do as we are instructed.
2. Not with Eyeservice
“…not with eyeservice, as menpleasers…” (Col. 3:22).
“In the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes, Calvin’s boss is catching him sitting at his desk staring out the window. ‘Why aren’t you working Calvin?’ Without much thought Calvin confessed to his boss, ‘Because I didn’t see you coming.’ ”
“Eyeservice” refers to one who just works hard, or pretends to work hard, when he or she knows somebody’s watching and, as such, is a “menpleaser” and one who seeks to gain the praise and favor of others through the work being seen. The quality, effort, and thoroughness of those who work only with eyeservice drop off dramatically when they aren’t being watched.
The type of work Paul exhorts from believing employees has nothing to do with whether we are being watched or not, or whether we will get credit or not. By the grace of God, Christ desires that His Church be people of integrity who work diligently all the time, even when no earthly master is watching. We do so knowing that the Lord, our Master in heaven, sees all we do at all times (Prov. 5:21).
3. In Singleness of Heart, Fearing God
“…but in singleness of heart, fearing God” (Col. 3:22).
The word “singleness” means simple sincerity, the virtue of one who is free from pretence and hypocrisy. This sincerity comes from one’s heart. God’s grace reaches for the heart, and it changes it. The goal for our respect, cooperation, and a good work ethic on the job is that it be not just superficial but genuine from the heart.
Singleness of heart is wanting to do what is right and good in God’s sight. It’s being singularly and sincerely focused on pleasing the Lord in all we do, including in the workplace. There is more to working for the believer than just punching the clock, doing the job we are paid to do, and then punching out. We’re called to work with singleness of heart as a testimony for Christ.
Paul adds that we are to work, “fearing God.” Fearing God is about giving reverence to Him. Your job, no matter what it is, can be an act of worship. It’s been said well that “As Christians we sometimes exalt ‘spiritual’ work and downplay simple labor. However, any work, no matter how mundane, that is done for God is spiritual work.” All believers can serve the Lord in their jobs, whatever that job may be. Thus, any job becomes a ministry.
Often, many in the world look to their career to provide them with meaning and for it to bring significance to their lives. For the believer, however, Christ is the One Who gives meaning and significance to our lives. Therefore, we do not look for meaning in our career; rather we bring meaning to it by faith as we work in an attitude of worship, fearing God.
4. Do It Heartily
“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily…” (Col. 3:23).
“Whatsoever ye do” is a comprehensive statement. One’s whole being belongs to God: body, soul, and spirit. All of life is Christian. And whatever we do in our daily employment, we should “do it heartily,” putting our hearts and souls into it, doing it wholeheartedly to the best of our abilities.
In His earthly ministry, the Lord told Israel, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength…” (Mark 12:30). Worship teaches us to give our whole heart to the Lord God. And stemming from our devotion to God, in our employment, we are called to work with all our hearts. Being a reliable, productive, hard worker glorifies God. As King Solomon advised, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might…” (Eccl. 9:10).
5. As to the Lord
“…as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Col. 3:23).
Walter Wangerin wrote the following: “If a carpenter crafts a chair for a rich stranger, he may do it well, but if he crafts it for his daughter, he will do it lovingly. Much, much is different between the first and the second crafting, and much is different between the two chairs, too, though only he and his daughter may see the difference.”
As we work out of our love and gratitude for the Lord, this makes a difference in how we work and the kind of effort we give it. Working just for a paycheck often leads to doing just enough. Knowing that one is ultimately working for the Lord is meant to transform and upgrade a worker’s attitude and performance. And because we truly are serving the Lord in our jobs, Paul wrote that our faithful testimony in our jobs will be justly rewarded by the Lord one day.
Payday Someday
“Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons” (Col. 3:24-25).
We serve the Lord in our daily employment “knowing” we will be rewarded by our Master in heaven one day. The Lord promises to reward those who work with the kind of heart, integrity, and obedience described in verses 22-23. The word “reward” (v. 24) means recompence. It refers to what Christ will give in return for the work that believers do in the workplace.
This reward is called “the reward of the inheritance.” Believing Israel has a future inheritance in the Promised Land during Christ’s earthly kingdom (Matt. 5:5). For the Body of Christ, we learn of our inheritance from the message revealed to the Apostle Paul for the Church today. Paul referred to the believer’s inheritance earlier in this letter:
“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light” (Col. 1:12).
When we trust Christ as our Savior, we are born again, by grace, into the family of God (Eph. 2:4-5; Titus 3:4-5). In Christ, believers enter a familial relationship that, in turn, legally bequeaths us an inheritance called “the inheritance of the saints in light.” This describes the believer’s position and standing before God in Christ in the light and glories of heaven (Col. 1:5). Our inheritance of eternity in heaven in Christ cannot be gained by works or lost by bad behavior. It is all of grace and is a gift received by faith alone.
However, “the reward of the inheritance” (Col. 3:24) is different from our “the inheritance of the saints in light.” The “reward of the inheritance” is something that can be gained or lost based on our service to Christ.
Colossians 3:24 tells us that one who serves the Lord in the workplace “shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” Thus, we see the receiving of reward is dependent upon good and faithful service rendered to Christ. Colossians 2:18 also warns the church of the possibility of losing rewards: “Let no man beguile [defraud or cheat] you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels….”
The reward of the inheritance refers to heavenly, spiritual, and eternal rewards. These will be given or withheld, won or lost when we stand before the Lord at the Judgment Seat of Christ (Rom. 14:10-12). It is at that day when each believer will individually stand before the Lord to give an account, that believers who faithfully labor in their jobs and ministries and serve the Lord in them will be recompensed and given an eternal reward by Him.
Your daily work goes into eternity. Your job has eternal significance. You might feel as if your work doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. You get called out to a job for a sink that’s leaking, you fix the pipes like you’ve done a thousand times before, and you wonder what difference it makes. You go to your class every day and teach the children the things you’ve been teaching for many years, and you wonder if it is making any difference.
Work often feels futile and pointless. This passage reminds you that it isn’t. What you do matters forever. The kids you taught might not care that you poured your heart out teaching them, and they might not ever realize how much it helped them in life. In the house where you ably fixed the plumbing, conscientiously caring that you did a good job, the residents won’t remember you were there in a day or two, and they might not remember your name. But Christ cares. He knows. He won’t forget. He will reward you for it one day. Everything you did for the glory of Christ and as a godly testimony for Him will be remembered forever.
Regarding the receiving of the reward of the inheritance at the Judgment Seat of Christ, Paul further points out that, at that day, “he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons” (Col. 3:25).
The motives, attitudes, and conduct of the believing workman are the issue in this context. “He that doeth wrong” is obviously one who does the opposite of what is right, and in this context, it means to do the opposite of everything Paul said the believer should do in the workplace. It means to be habitually stubborn, insubordinate, and disobedient to the supervisor. It means to work with eyeservice and superficial cooperation, not giving a full effort or working as to the Lord.
Paul says when this kind of unfaithful workman stands before the Lord at the Judgment Seat, he will “receive for the wrong which he hath done” in the sense that he will receive nothing. “He shall suffer loss” of reward (cf. 1 Cor. 3:15). The heavenly rewards of our inheritance that we could have received from the Lord’s own hand, had we been faithful laborers, will be withheld.
At the Bema Seat, with “no respect of persons” (Col. 3:25), or without favoritism, the impartial Judge and Head of the Church will righteously judge the entire Body of Christ. On that day, every believer in Christ can expect to receive a reward for good conduct or suffer loss of reward for consistent misconduct in their daily employment. As 2 Corinthians 5:10 reminds us,
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
By the grace of God, may we resolve to be faithful, godly workers for the glory of our Savior!
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