About a year ago, I had the idea to put all of the Sunday afternoon teaching on here. I posted once, and that was it. Turns out there wasn't grace for it. So, here I am a year later with a new idea. I'm gonna post some of my thoughts on different scriptures. I've been doing this via e-mail for quite some time, and it's been pretty good, so let's see how it goes. I'll start with Colossians 3:22-24.
What we see here is an issue of servitude. This is a simple concept that we have tainted with generations of well meaning but selfish and worldly ambitions. Most of my life I was told if I worked hard, I could make something of myself. That I could be whatever I wanted to be. And there’s the problem. The real measure of success is not what we can make of ourselves, but that we can become who we were made to be. Let’s look:
v. 22 – A) Obey your masters on earth. I think, all jokes aside, we would all agree that we are not slaves to anyone on earth. But the idea is the same for those of us who work for someone else. Paul calls us to obey. But he goes on to explain how and more importantly why.
B) Notice he says not with external service as pleases men. Obedience simply means to follow orders. So we can do that. But the why do we do it? Not because we want to please the one who asked us, but because we want to please and glorify the One we serve, being God
v. 23 – A) Whatever you do. I’ll stop there for a moment. Notice that he doesn’t point out. He says whatever, meaning regardless of what is you do. Now this is originally directed at slaves, but as most of us are bound to a job for financial purposes, you can get the same point. It doesn’t matter what different careers or skill sets or pay scales we think of, work is work.
B) Do it heartily, or, from the heart. This tells me that when we have been assigned a task or taken on a chore, we should apply ourselves with intent on excellence. “But what if I’m not getting paid enough for the work that’s being asked?” “What if the task at hand isn’t fun or exciting?” “It ain’t fair!” All of these expressions I have thought or said at some point or another. Fact is it doesn’t matter. I have to remember that we don’t serve our employers or our clients or whatever. We work for them, but we serve God. When we work for someone, we have made an agreement to do a job for a wage. We can leave at anytime, and they too can let us go at anytime. So why do I say all that? Let’s continue…
C) As for the Lord rather than for men. This is where it gets tricky. First of all, as a service unto God, all of our lives should be dedicated to pleasing Him. Moaning, groaning, whining and complaining doesn’t get us there right? It doesn’t give Him glory when we grumble or throw a tantrum. What does give Him glory is a job done well regardless of circumstances, done with honor and dignity. He is glorified when we do well, if the work was done in servitude to Him. Now here’s the twist. We can still do a job well and excel in what we do, and fail at servitude. The part about serving God rather than men – men doesn’t just mean the folks we work for, it includes us too. Often times we set our minds to achieve or accomplish, but is selfish ambition. It is us trying to find gratification or fulfillment in the work of our own hands. This is a dangerous thing, because that leads to pride. Or sometimes we feel that if we work hard enough, we’ll get noticed and find favor with men, hence advancing ourselves. Again, not a good way of thinking because we are placing our hopes in the hands of men, and not God. So what then? Let’s continue…
v. 24 – A) knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. Wow. And here we were thinking that a bonus or a good 401k was significant. By inheritance, he speaks of eternal life! What more is there than forever with the Father? There is nothing on this earth, regardless of how good it may appear, that can compare with that. The right now always seems better than the later on, but we must remember to stay focused. Because as he concludes v.24, it is the Lord Christ whom we serve.
I confess that this is one that I need to work on. I give each one of you permission to call me out if you hear me grumbling or slacking, and ask me “who do you serve?” I would hope that our attitudes and self application reflects the will of God and is pleasing to Him, and nothing else.
What we see here is an issue of servitude. This is a simple concept that we have tainted with generations of well meaning but selfish and worldly ambitions. Most of my life I was told if I worked hard, I could make something of myself. That I could be whatever I wanted to be. And there’s the problem. The real measure of success is not what we can make of ourselves, but that we can become who we were made to be. Let’s look:
v. 22 – A) Obey your masters on earth. I think, all jokes aside, we would all agree that we are not slaves to anyone on earth. But the idea is the same for those of us who work for someone else. Paul calls us to obey. But he goes on to explain how and more importantly why.
B) Notice he says not with external service as pleases men. Obedience simply means to follow orders. So we can do that. But the why do we do it? Not because we want to please the one who asked us, but because we want to please and glorify the One we serve, being God
v. 23 – A) Whatever you do. I’ll stop there for a moment. Notice that he doesn’t point out. He says whatever, meaning regardless of what is you do. Now this is originally directed at slaves, but as most of us are bound to a job for financial purposes, you can get the same point. It doesn’t matter what different careers or skill sets or pay scales we think of, work is work.
B) Do it heartily, or, from the heart. This tells me that when we have been assigned a task or taken on a chore, we should apply ourselves with intent on excellence. “But what if I’m not getting paid enough for the work that’s being asked?” “What if the task at hand isn’t fun or exciting?” “It ain’t fair!” All of these expressions I have thought or said at some point or another. Fact is it doesn’t matter. I have to remember that we don’t serve our employers or our clients or whatever. We work for them, but we serve God. When we work for someone, we have made an agreement to do a job for a wage. We can leave at anytime, and they too can let us go at anytime. So why do I say all that? Let’s continue…
C) As for the Lord rather than for men. This is where it gets tricky. First of all, as a service unto God, all of our lives should be dedicated to pleasing Him. Moaning, groaning, whining and complaining doesn’t get us there right? It doesn’t give Him glory when we grumble or throw a tantrum. What does give Him glory is a job done well regardless of circumstances, done with honor and dignity. He is glorified when we do well, if the work was done in servitude to Him. Now here’s the twist. We can still do a job well and excel in what we do, and fail at servitude. The part about serving God rather than men – men doesn’t just mean the folks we work for, it includes us too. Often times we set our minds to achieve or accomplish, but is selfish ambition. It is us trying to find gratification or fulfillment in the work of our own hands. This is a dangerous thing, because that leads to pride. Or sometimes we feel that if we work hard enough, we’ll get noticed and find favor with men, hence advancing ourselves. Again, not a good way of thinking because we are placing our hopes in the hands of men, and not God. So what then? Let’s continue…
v. 24 – A) knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. Wow. And here we were thinking that a bonus or a good 401k was significant. By inheritance, he speaks of eternal life! What more is there than forever with the Father? There is nothing on this earth, regardless of how good it may appear, that can compare with that. The right now always seems better than the later on, but we must remember to stay focused. Because as he concludes v.24, it is the Lord Christ whom we serve.
I confess that this is one that I need to work on. I give each one of you permission to call me out if you hear me grumbling or slacking, and ask me “who do you serve?” I would hope that our attitudes and self application reflects the will of God and is pleasing to Him, and nothing else.
-Todd Bagley
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