CONTENTS
1. Come to Jesus Daily devotional
- Monday – Treasure Jesus in your work
- Tuesday – Treasure Jesus in how you work
- Wednesday – Treasure your true pay
- Thursday – Beware of being poorly paid
- Friday – Jesus in our pattern
You can listen to the message at: Link for audio content
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1. COME TO JESUS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
One of our goals as a church is to spend at least 20 minutes every day in prayer and worship out of the bible. I hope you find this devotional helpful toward that end.
This week we are thinking about the world of work. For many of us, work is seen a burden to be disposed of as soon as possible. Many live for retirement whilst doing work that makes them feel miserable. Some of us, for whatever reason, don’t do any formal employment. However, God still wants you to work hard for Him with the gifts and capacities that He has given you.
MONDAY – TREASURE JESUS IN YOUR WORK (3:22)
See your true boss behind your boss!
Colossians 3:22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favour, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.
Earlier in this chapter, Paul has written,
'And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him’ (Colossians 3:17).
In my work life, pre and post working for the church, I have struggled to serve God with a good heart. I have often found my heart moving toward serving myself or other people and, therefore, getting a bad attitude when I don’t feel fulfilled or validated by others. In your work (formal or informal) who are you working for? Maybe you’d say the name of the company, the name of your boss, your children, you could say that you’re self-employed… God wants Christians to see themselves as working for Him - He is the true boss behind your boss!
Even if you don’t think that you have formal employment, you are still to work for Jesus in whatever you do.
Problems at work come for various reasons; we can inflate the place of our boss above Jesus. Paul, in using the term ‘earthly masters’, is emphasising the truth that they, and we, may have a boss, but they are earthly and under Jesus’ rule – Jesus is our true king, our true boss. Those who see themselves as serving Jesus first, will:
- Work hard even when they are not being watched.
- Be prepared to damage their career prospects when they are being asked to do things that dishonour Jesus.
- Rest properly. They will refuse to allow work to enslave them.
- Value what they do even if it seems of low status to others.
- Embrace what they do as an opportunity from God for their growth and as a place of mission.
RESPONSE
Have you aligned your perspective so that you are serving Jesus in the workplace?
Do you honour Jesus above your earthly authorities or do you put work above your love and loyalty to Jesus? Do you allow the pressures of work to so dominate, that you don’t give time to personal worship, or devotion to God’s people?
If you don’t work – You may not be in any official employment but we can all serve Jesus in the circumstances that we find ourselves. In all of our interactions we can seek to glorify Jesus in our exemplary example and attitude. What are the various things that you do in your week? How can you serve Jesus in how you serve people?
TUESDAY – TREASURE JESUS IN HOW YOU WORK (3:23)
The way that we work glorifies or defames Jesus
There is no doubt about it, the way that a Christian behave reflects upon Jesus. Therefore, it’s vitally important that we show Jesus through how we conduct ourselves in our lives and how we behave at work.
Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.
Titus 2:9-10 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Saviour attractive.
Paul urges us that ‘in whatever you do, working with ‘all your heart’ not because he sees the great importance of your particular job, but because such an approach glorifies God and could very well lead to the salvation of those who see Jesus in you. John Piper’s encouraging words are helpful,
‘Be the one who volunteers first to go get the pizza. To drive the van. To organise the picnic. Take an interest in others at work. Be known as the one who cares not just about the light-hearted weekend tales, but the burdens of heavy and painful Monday mornings. Love your workmates, and point them to the great Burden Bearer.’
The way you work can hide or show light
Jesus says of us, “You are the light of the world.” (Matt. 5:14)
We often think of our being ‘the light of the world…’ as the things that we do as a church together. But do you realise that when the church is ‘scattered’ through the week, at work, at school, in whatever you do, it’s here, in particular, that we are light - showing Jesus to people? But we can fail to be this, as Jesus continues,
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” (Matthew 5:14-15)
Unfortunately, we can, through passivity or poor behaviour, fail to be the light, we hide our light. When we are a poor student, are unpunctual, we gossip, we do the bare minimum, we are hiding Jesus! Instead, let’s hear Jesus encouragement,
“…Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
RESPONSE
Think – in your approach to work, your studies, your volunteering…do you glorify or defame Jesus?
As someone has said, you are the only bible that many people read!
What is your ‘frontline’?
For many, work is a major place that God has given us to serve Him and to help others to come to know Him,
Mark Green in his book, Fruitfulness on the Frontline wrote,
‘Ed works in a factory. He’s bored and he’s been praying for a new job for two years. He wants to do something for God – become a worship leader perhaps. Ed thinks his mission is somewhere else. And because he thinks his mission is somewhere else, he’s not really been thinking about how he could be fruitful for God where he is…One day, Ed realised that if God wasn’t giving him a new job, he must have something he wanted him to do right where he was...and he began to see what that was. He started to get in a bit earlier for his shift, and looked for ways to bless people, befriend people and pray for them. And over time, he saw God working.’
Perhaps it’s time for you to embrace your work by faith as your ‘frontline’ of service and mission!
WEDNESDAY – TREASURE YOUR TRUE PAY (3:24)
Serving God leads to an inheritance
Colossians 3:24 Since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
We are all tempted to measure our worth by how much people are prepared to pay us. Or, we measure the worth of what we do by the rewards and perks. If you are in a high or low-status job, or if one is unemployed or retired, many people will rate you based on this, and it’s easy for such ungodly attitudes to infect our own souls.
Now, just imagine how people would esteem you if you worked for God! Well, you do, or can do! Others, and even you, may not truly grasp this, but all Christians are invited to be employed by the King of Kings!
Slaves, at this time, were not esteemed. They had the lowest status. It would have been tempting for slaves to have poor self-esteem, and for other Christians to disregard such members of their churches, and even harder for ‘masters’ to respect a slave who may have been their church leader! In Christ, there is a radical social reordering that equalises everyone. As we read,
‘Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.’ (Colossians 3:11)
‘No longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.’ (Philemon 1:16).
So we must all beware of being conformed to how this world values people by what they do and how they are recompensed.
Any Christian, from the humblest background, doing the least respected pass-time, is employed by God and has a great ‘inheritance’ in store (and the reverse is also true!).
RESPONSE
Do you treasure your true worth and true pay? Your true worth is as a child of God. All Christians who have received Jesus as Lord and Saviour become God’s family!
Secondly, do you treasure your true pay, which is termed as an ‘inheritance’ and ‘reward' from God? If we only work hard because we want money, perks, respect… then we will fail to work hard and joyfully if we are not paid or are poorly paid. Like Jesus, we are to serve people (even our employers) no matter what! We can only do this when we keep our eternal inheritance in mind; the trials of life are made joyful as we see that this age is passing and that we have a glorious eternity in store. This is why Paul prays, and perhaps you might like to pray this for yourself,
’I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people’ (Ephesians 1:18).
Let’s finish by meditating of Jesus’ very apt words,
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)
THURSDAY – BEWARE OF BEING POORLY PAID (3:25)
Christians can have greater or lesser rewards from God
Colossians 3:25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favouritism.
Many of us will be aware of how much we should be paid. Many people belong to a union in order to ensure that they get what they deserve. Today’s text warns all of us that if we have the wrong approach to life and work, we will be repaid by God accordingly. Let’s remember that this letter is written to Christians, not to non-believers; Christians, although saved through faith in Christ, will also face judgement, and be rewarded according to how they have lived.
Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs
Christians, no matter what their status, will be ‘repaid for their wrongs’ and rewarded for their acts of service to God. Two texts make this clear,
‘So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.’ (2 Corinthians 5:9-10)
‘Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.’ (Galatians 6:7-9)
RESPONSE
Let’s all beware of being poorly paid. Of reaching heaven, but with ‘empty pockets’, having failed to live faithfully for our Lord!
Today’s text is a call to renew our devotion to Jesus. Maybe you take your obligations seriously at work, at home, in your relationships… but your obligation to serve the Lord above and in these things is not preeminent. Maybe you are devoted to your entertainment, your hobbies, your holidays… but you cannot honestly say, ‘It is the Lord Christ you are serving’ (3:24). Let’s ask Jesus for forgiveness and the grace to live before Him and for His reward. Maybe you would like to meditate on Paul’s encouragement from 1 Corinthians 9,
‘Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.’ (1 Corinthians 9:26-27)
FRIDAY – JESUS IS OUR PATTERN (4:1)
Imitate Jesus where you have influence
Colossians 4:1 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
Ephesian 6:9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favouritism with him.
After addressing slaves (we have applied this to employees), Paul now speaks to masters, who, in our context, are employers (and you can apply this to any relationship in which you have some authority).
Imitate your ‘master in heaven’
Business and charity leaders are to model their authority after God’s gracious authority over all people, as Jesus says,
Matthew 5:44-46 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
Provide what is right and fair
In the ESV version it is put, ‘Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly.’ At all times, authority can be abused. No matter how many laws are passed to restrain poor behaviour, leaders, in all spheres, will find ways of serving their own interests at the expense of those under them.
Only when leaders understand that they are accountable to God, and that they are God’s servants for the good of society, will they endeavour to act justly and fairly.
RESPONSE
How are you and I failing to model our influence on Jesus?
- Do you fail to give to people what you owe them?
- Do you hold grudges against people who don’t do what you think they should?
- Are you fighting against your weakness to show favouritism to certain types of people (we all do this!)
- Do you correct people? Do you help people to develop? And do you do this with gentleness?
On a higher level – if you run or have influence in a business, it’s God’s will that it serves His glory. Perhaps you could pray and plan for this. As John Piper writes,
‘Aim to help your company have an impact that is life-enhancing without being soul-destroying. Some industries have an impact that is destructive (e.g., porn, gambling, abortion, marketing scams, etc). But many can be helped to turn toward impact that is life-giving without being soul-ruining. As you have opportunity, work toward that.’
A final word
We come into the Christian life with all sorts of baggage and poor attitudes to work. God wants to teach all of us. He wants to reform our thinking and behaviour. Many of us think of work as a bad thing to be removed from our lives as much and as quickly as possible. However, we are created to work, to work for God, to work for good, so that we can be generous to others.
Wherever you find yourself in life, let’s end this study by praying through the following text,
‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters’ (Colossians 3:23)
2. COMMUNITY GROUP/FAMILY STUDY
TREASURE JESUS AT WORK
This week we are thinking about the world of work. For many of us, work is seen as a burden to be disposed of as soon as possible. Many live for retirement whilst doing work that makes them feel miserable. Some of us, for whatever reason, don’t do any formal employment; however, God still wants you to work hard for Him with the gifts and capacities that He has given you.
Read Colossians 3:22-4:1 and discuss together:
1. Treasure Jesus at work – Read Colossians 3:22.
- What does this text teach us about how God wants us to approach our work? (Or, if you are not formally employed, in the places that you consider to be your work?)
- What could be the signs that we are making an idol of our work?
2. Treasure Jesus in how you work – Read Colossians 3:23
- Do you have personal examples of having a bad attitude at work?
- What do Matthew 5:14-6 & Titus 2:9-10 say about how our approach to work can help others to come to Jesus?
3. Treasure your true pay – Read Colossians 3:24
- How can we value or devalue people according to their work?
- How can we guard against deriving our worth from our work/pay?
- Do you realise that your acts of faith for Jesus will be rewarded in heaven? How should this affect how you live and work?
4. Jesus is our pattern – Read Colossians 4:1
- You may not be a ‘master’ (a business, charity… leader) but where do you have influence?
- What does Matthew 5:44-46 teach us about how we, in our places of influence, can pattern ourselves after Jesus?
