A cheerful worker
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ (Colossians 3:23-24).
In Colossians 3:23-24 Paul teaches us to regard everyday work as a service for Christ. Work has always had problems. Some people do as little work as possible because they are lazy or do not think they are paid enough. Some work hard only when they are being watched, or try to curry favour with their bosses. People often complain about their occupations and want to be free of them. Others become entirely absorbed in their work and love what they do. Work can be complicated. Paul makes things simple by encouraging Christians to do everything for the Lord.
In the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30 I love the way the first two servants approached their master and said, “Lord … look”. There is real joy in their service. They looked forward to bringing to their lord the results of their faithful service. They wanted to please him. And the lord responded joyfully, “Well done, good and faithful servant … enter into the joy of your lord.” Their service was an expression of their relationship. They worked heartily for the lord. And they did not recognise their fellow servant’s description of their master as a hard and frightening man. They knew a master who wanted them to succeed in their service and who looked forward to rewarding them.
Some years ago, I was told about a typical young man who never helped around the house. This used to really annoy his sister. He started studying at university, and at the end of his first year, he came back home. As soon as the family finished their evening meal, he began clearing the dishes from the table and then started the washing-up. His sister could not believe the change she was seeing. She asked him about his new behaviour. He told her he went along to the Christian Union at university, and had become a Christian. It was not long before the sister took the same step of faith, and the whole family were led to the Lord. Why? Because a new Christian had the right attitude to work. I doubt anyone told him to wash up. I suspect it was a spontaneous action emerging from the new life he had in Christ. Life doesn’t become irksome, but joyful. Wilfulness is changed to willingness and selfishness to selflessness. Christ is formed in us.
The NIV translates verse 23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” This verse should transform our view of everyday work. It adds dignity to what we do because we serve “the Lord Christ.” Paul writes similar words in Ephesians 6:6-7: “doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men”. The Lord Jesus came to do God’s perfect will. Before going to the cross, He washed the disciples’ feet. In resurrection, the Lord Jesus made breakfast! In the simplest of tasks, He conveyed the most profound spiritual lessons. The apostle saw his work as tentmaker as an essential part of his ministry and witness to fellow Christians. He said to the Ephesian elders, “You yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me … Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” (Acts 20:34-35).
