A Word from Colossians 3

On this Monday morning, many of us will be headed off to work. And even if you’re retired or a homemaker, who doesn’t necessarily get paid for a lot of your work, this means that you’re about to dive back into the activities and responsibilities that will fill most of this day, this week—and over time—most of your life. And so, it’s worth asking: How does our work connect with our life in Christ?

Of course, as many of you know, we’re in the middle of a spiritual emphasis here at Calvary called “Practicing the Way.” And one of the things I hope you’ve heard me say is that the goal of being with Jesus—and becoming like Jesus—is to become the kind of people who live like he would live, if he was in our place. And since work—whether paid or unpaid—is such a significant part of lives; then surely, our work needs to be one of the places that being an “apprentice” of Jesus matters most.

But if that’s true, we immediately face the question: How do we do our work as Jesus would do it if he was in our place? And right here, I think, is where today’s word from Colossians 3 is so helpful. Paul is writing to his brothers and sisters in Christ, telling them how to live the life God wants them to live. And he says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Col. 3:23-24)

You see, no matter what tasks are on our agenda today—at work, at home, or anywhere else—we can do them as if we’re doing them for Christ! We can work with integrity, and excellence, and care for others. And if we do that, I feel confident the Lord will say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (Mt. 25:21)

So I pray that you’ll find joy in your work today…and that you’ll give joy to the Lord who wants to our work to shape us in His image. Amen.