23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23–24 (ESV)
Continuing our study in Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians, a new paragraph begins in Colossians 3:18-4:1. The truth of what believers “are” in Christ is to be balanced by how believers are to live for Christ. The practical truth of Jesus Christ as the only and all-sufficient Savior, and as Lord of the believers’ life, is now applied to specific groups and situations. What people groups does the Apostle Paul, and the Holy Spirit, have in mind?
To begin with, Paul addressed wives and husbands (Col. 3:18-19). He then wrote of parents and their children (Col. 3:20-22). Thirdly, Paul considered the Christian responsibility of work (Col. 3:23-4:1).
Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Whatever you do (ποιῆτε; poiete) is a present, active, plural subjunctive verb. It refers to what individuals’ presently, actively, collectively and hopefully seek to manufacture, produce and/or create. Whatever it is we do, wherever it is we do what we do, believers in Christ are to work heartily.
To work (ἐργάζεσθε; ergazesthe) is a present, middle, imperative, plural verb. It means to accomplish a task or to labor at a trade. God commands believers in Christ to work presently, personally, and obediently. To do so heartily (ψυχῆς; psyches) means to work with one’s entire soul: intellect, emotions and will.
For the Christian, there is no room for laziness; especially when working and receiving a wage for one’s work. How may the believer in Christ keep a proper and biblical perspective concerning work? By always keeping in mind our work is done for the Lord and not for men. Ultimately, we work for Him in whatever we do. All labor can, and should, bring God glory, honor and praise.
Pasul continued to speak of work in 3:24 when he wrote, “knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
Knowing (εἰδότες; eidotes) is a perfect active participle. It refers to a past completed action with continuing results in the present and future. To know means to have understanding and comprehension of a person, place or situation. In this particular context, Paul spoke of the believer’s eternal perspective and understanding regarding one’s temporal work here on earth.
Whatever rewards or recognition an employee, or employer, may receive in this life pales into comparison with the believer’s eternal inheritance from the Lord. The believer in Christ will receive (ἀπολήμψεσθε; apolempsethe) or obtain an inheritance (κληρονομίας; kleronomias) or possession; eternal life. This inheritance of eternal life is from the Lord.
Ultimately, each believer in Christ is serving the Lord Jesus in whatever work they do; as long as the work is not involving sin and rebellion against God and His commandments.
In this life, the employee may receive far less from their employer less than they should. However, The Lord will give the full amount which by God’s grace has been allotted to every believer in Christ.
“Though salvation is entirely “by grace” and definitely not “of works” (Eph. 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5), yet this gracious recompense of eternal life will be given “according to works” (2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:12, 13; then also Eccl. 12:14; 1 Cor. 3:10–15; 4:5; Gal. 6:7). The recompense is, moreover, “the inheritance,” probably implying the following ideas: a. it is a gift (a person does not earn an inheritance), b. it is inalienable (1 Kings 21:3; Heb. 9:15), c. it was willed to the person who receives it, and in that sense, is therefore his by right (cf. Isa. 1:27); and it implies the death of the testator (Heb. 9:16),” explains Dr. William Hendriksen.
“Now slaves, as a rule, are not heirs (Gen 15:3; Rom. 8:15–17; Gal. 4:7). But the slaves to whom Paul is here referring do inherit, for their Master is Christ: (It is) the Lord Christ (whom) you are serving. Let them therefore always live “as under the eye” of their Lord (Rom. 16:18). The anointed Lord is the slave’s employer. What a privilege and honor.”
Martin Luther stressed that vocation is not first about what we do. Rather, it is about what God does through us. God gives us this day our daily bread through the vocation of farmers, millers, bakers, and—we would add—the factory workers, truck drivers, grocery store employees, and the hands that prepared our meal. God creates and cares for new life by means of the vocations of mother and father, husband and wife. He protects us by means of police officers, judges, the military, and other Romans 13 vocations of those who “bear the sword.” God brings healing not primarily through miracles but through the vocation of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and the other medical vocations. God teaches through teachers, conveys His Word through preachers, gives the blessings of technology through engineers, and creates beauty through artists. God works through all the people who do things for us, day by day. And He also works through us, in whatever tasks, offices, and relationships He has called us to do,” explains Dr. Gene Edward Veith of Patrick Henry College, Va.
“The doctrine of vocation charges our everyday lives and our mundane activities with spiritual significance, and it is indeed a powerful motivator to perform them with excellence. Luther stressed that our vocations are not works that we perform “for” God. The monastics talked that way, as if the Lord of the universe needed or was impressed by our actions. “God does not need our good works,” Luther said. “But our neighbor does.” The monks insisted they were saved by their good works, but Luther denied that their self-chosen mystical exercises, performed in isolation from other people, could even be called good works. “Who are you helping?” he asked. Good works are those that help our neighbor. They are performed primarily in our callings.”
What work do you do? Whatever it may be, we should glorify the Lord in our work, and benefit our neighbor by our work. May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
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