Colossians 3:22-25 The Message
22-25 Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
God Working Attitude
God’s Attitude About Work
The Bible says,
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism. – Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.” (Colossians 3:23 – 4:1)
I would propose to you, with the coming of Labor Day, laboring, working as doing our work unto Christ will make you and I a living witness for the Lord that surpasses the average wage earner, that causes people to take note of the life we live in obedience to the written Word of God. The heart of the average employee is more influenced by a limited world view rather than having the mind of Christ, as the Bible tells you and me to have. (1 Corinthians 2:10-16)
There are many passages of Scripture that specifically speak about work, with a key truth being, “Six days you shall labor and do your work.” (Exodus 20:9)
This command comes directly from God who sets the model example before us as being a worker.
The Bible says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)
By the end of the sixth day He made the sun and moon and stars, Adam and Eve, and all the living creatures, everything on this earth for Him and us to enjoy.
“And God saw that is was all good.” (Genesis 1:25)
There is nothing more than any great biker would love to do than take a long vacation, making the long motorcycle ride – touring and seeing everything God has created. That is a whole lot of riding when you consider the whole planet.
Surface:
Total Surface Area: about 509 600 000 square km (197 000 000 square miles).
Area of land: 148 326 000 km2 (57 268 900 square miles), this are 29% of the total surface of Planet Earth.
Area of water: 361 740 000 km2 (139 668 500 square miles), this are 71% of the total surface of the Earth.
97 percent is salt water and only 3 percent is fresh water. https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/earth.htm#:~:text=Area%20of%20land%3A%20148%20326,3%20percent%20is%20fresh%20water.
Imagine, if every last person were a specialist in landscaping, they could never get done over ten billion lifetimes what God has created, especially in six days.
Even the best doctors and vets cannot create human beings or animals.
No matter how smart and gifted they are, they cannot sustain life for eternity.
When all is said that can be said, all is done that will be done, this earth as we know it will be burned up. God will create a new heaven and a new earth. (Isaiah 65:17; Revelation 21:1)
The Book of Psalms says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” (Psalm 19:1)
Jesus said, “My Father is always at His work to this very day…” (John 5:17)
Dr. Charles Mayo of the famous Mayo Clinic once said, “There is no fun like work.” The writer of the Book of Ecclesiastes wrote, “…there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot…” (Ecclesiastes 3:22)
The key steps to doing our Labor As Unto Christ is to have a thankful enjoyment of God’s gifts, seeing your job as a discharge from God, knowing God is going to bring all things under His judgment, (Ecclesiastes 11:9) and not seeing your job as 8 hours of drudgery and money seeking opportunity. (Ecclesiastes 5:10-17)
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 Complete Jewish Bible
13 Here is the final conclusion, now that you have heard everything: fear God, and keep his mitzvot; this is what being human is all about. 14 For God will bring to judgment everything we do, including every secret, whether good or bad.
[Here is the final conclusion, now that you have heard everything: fear God, and keep his mitzvot; this is what being human is all about.]
The book of Exodus reminds us that it is the Lord who gives different abilities to achieve things and perform certain tasks. (Exodus 31:3)
The writer of the Book of Thessalonians tells us, “if anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10)
According to the ancient Psalmist … God is always at work …
Psalm 111 Complete Jewish Bible
111 Halleluyah!
I will wholeheartedly give thanks to Adonai
in the council of the upright and in the assembly.
2 The deeds of Adonai are great,
greatly desired by all who enjoy them.
3 His work is full of majesty and splendor,
and his righteousness continues forever.
4 He has gained renown for his wonders.
Adonai is merciful and compassionate.
5 He gives food to those who fear him.
He remembers his covenant forever.
6 He shows his people how powerfully he works
by giving them the nations as their heritage.
7 The works of his hands are truth and justice;
all his precepts can be trusted.
8 They have been established forever and ever,
to be carried out truly and honestly.
9 He sent redemption to his people
and decreed that his covenant should last forever.
His name is holy and fearsome —
10 the first and foremost point of wisdom is the fear of Adonai;
all those living by it gain good common sense.
His praise stands forever.
According to Jesus Christ – God is always at His work.
John 14:10-14 Complete Jewish Bible
10 Don’t you believe that I am united with the Father, and the Father united with me? What I am telling you, I am not saying on my own initiative; the Father living in me is doing his own works. 11 Trust me, that I am united with the Father, and the Father united with me. But if you can’t, then trust because of the works themselves. 12 Yes, indeed! I tell you that whoever trusts in me will also do the works I do! Indeed, he will do greater ones, because I am going to the Father. 13 In fact, whatever you ask for in my name, I will do; so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me for something in my name, I will do it.
Jesus said, “He will do greater works, …”
With implicit trust in God Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the right heart reflection, the right focused, the right oriented spiritual perspective, we all should always prayerfully consider all we do as doing it for the approval of God. 1 Corinthians 15:56-58
1 Corinthians 15:56-58 Complete Jewish Bible
56 The sting of death is sin; and sin draws its power from the Torah; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah!
58 So, my dear brothers, stand firm and immovable, always doing the Lord’s work as vigorously as you can, knowing that united with the Lord your efforts are not in vain.
Work: Serving God With Excellence
Colossians 3:23-24 Amplified Bible
23 Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [greatest] reward. It is the Lord Christ whom you [actually] serve.
Work is not merely a means of earning a living; it is an opportunity to serve God with excellence. Whether it’s in our job or career, our studies, or with our daily chores and tasks, we can each bring glory to God by working with diligence and wholeheartedness.
Our attitude toward work reflects our devotion to Christ. When we view our labor as an offering to the Lord, even mundane tasks take on significance.
Every effort made with love and dedication is an act of worship.
God calls us, the church, to work for him and not for human approval.
We find our ultimate reward in him.
Matthew 9:35-38 Complete Jewish Bible
35 Yeshua went about all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and weakness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were harried and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his talmidim, “The harvest is rich, but the workers are few. 38 Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out workers to gather in his harvest.”
Knowing that God sees everyone and knows everything and values all of our efforts, we yet serve with a steadfast joy and an immovable sense of purpose.
As we take Labor day as an extra day of rest or as an extended weekend, may our work ethic be characterized by integrity and humility. Whether we are enjoying success or facing challenges or grilling ourselves and family a BBQ, we can keep 100%, our eyes fixed on the One we serve, knowing that our labor is not in vain.
And as we go about celebrating the day our Lord God gave us, our “day of labor” our harvest work, our work supporting our families, move each day as working for the Lord, become a mirror reflection of God’s love and a light in this world.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God, the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 8 Complete Jewish Bible
8 (0) For the leader. On the gittit. A psalm of David:
2 (1) Adonai! Our Lord! How glorious
is your name throughout the earth!
The fame of your majesty
spreads even above the heavens!
3 (2) From the mouths of babies and infants at the breast
you established strength because of your foes,
in order that you might silence
the enemy and the avenger.
4 (3) When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and stars that you set in place —
5 (4) what are mere mortals, that you concern yourself with them;
humans, that you watch over them with such care?
6 (5) You made him but little lower than the angels,
you crowned him with glory and honor,
7 (6) you had him rule what your hands made,
you put everything under his feet —
8 (7) sheep and oxen, all of them,
also the animals in the wilds,
9 (8) the birds in the air, the fish in the sea,
whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
10 (9) Adonai! Our Lord! How glorious
is your name throughout the earth!
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 