Brace yourself for what my best friend Jenny calls some "good conviction." This week's verse is easier to gloss over than dig into, because if we let it sink in, it's going to require us to change.
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:23-24
"Whatever you do, work heartily"
I've found it easy to strive hard in some areas of life and not so hard in others. I'll work several hours perfecting every detail on a design project for a client, but that laundry? Oh, it can wait until tomorrow. Tasks that I enjoy are often easier to complete than not-so-awesome chores like cleaning the house or studying for a test. But this verse doesn't read, "whatever you want to do." Instead it tells us to work heartily in all that we do, whether the task is a pain or a joy.
"as for the Lord, and not for men"
Because the truth is that we aren't working to please our bosses or ourselves; we're working hard to reflect the patience, perseverance, and faithfulness of the One who provides for us. Even though it may get stressful and frustrating at times, work is a blessing from the Lord in and of itself. We should purpose each day to glorify God in all that we do; our efforts should be motivated by a respect and love for Him.
"knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward."
While we might be working for wages, our families, or even a clean house, those rewards pale in comparison to salvation. No, we can't earn our way into heaven by our works, but we can reflect our gratitude for His atoning sacrifice by working hard in all we do.
"You are serving the Lord Christ."
What a blessing it is to serve the One who gave His life for us!
Whether you're sitting in a cubicle, chasing little ones around, or waiting tables this week, I hope this pretty little background motivates you to go above and beyond in all that you do.
