“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.” Colossians 3:23-24
In these verses Paul is speaking directly and specifically to slaves. Although today most people are not slaves in the same sense of physical purchase and ownership, most everyone is a slave to someone. There is someone that they have to answer to and obey, whether it is a parent, boss, or some other authority, there is usually someone who is in control.
Paul is telling the people to work with all their heart. This is working with the best of your ability, not cutting corners, and not complaining.
Many people in the workplace like to cut corners on getting things done. They like to show up five minutes late or leave five minutes early because they know that the time clock works in fifteen minute increments. Others will stop working and talk for twenty minutes on a fifteen minute break. Some will work slower than they are actually able to work. All of these and many other ways are cheating the boss.
God wants you to work for that boss or obey that authority as though it was Jesus standing there telling you what to do. Every good thing that you do will be rewarded by God someday. The struggles and hardships that you endure working on this earth will get you an inheritance in heaven some day.
This work is not to gain you salvation or favor with God. It is showing your love for God and for others. It is doing the right thing. Do it whether someone sees you or not, because God is watching you and sees all that you are doing or not doing. Do it out of sincerity of your heart and obedience to God.
How do you obey those over you today? Do you cheat, lie, or cut corners? Or do you do the right thing every time, all the time?
I pray today that God will give you the strength to do the work that needs to be done; that you will do everything you do for Jesus; that you will know that God will reward you some day; and that God will draw many to Jesus through you.
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