SEPTEMBER 26

Worship at Work

Bible Reading: Colossians 3:16-4:1

Colossians 3:22-25, “Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 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. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.”

Years ago, I was employed as a Training Specialist at Trojan Nuclear Plant in Rainier, Oregon.  My job was to train reactor operators, and I worked hard at it, writing lesson plans and conducting classroom training.  I didn’t hide the fact that I was a believer, in fact, I’d oftentimes spend lunchtime in my office reading my Bible.  There was one fellow amongst our staff that loved to give me a hard time about my faith in Jesus.  He was always saying something derogatory about Jesus and my faith.  You can imagine my dismay when I learned he was promoted to be my boss!  But you know what?  I just kept on doing my job to the best of my ability.  And while I may not have been privileged to see him being won to Christ, I won his trust and maybe even his friendship.

The main theme of verses 22-25 has to do with how a believer is to relate to his or her employer, though it applies to other aspects of life as well.  We sometimes tend to compartmentalize our lives, thinking that worship happens once a week and in a church building.  The fact is, worship is the 24/7 activity of the believer, in which He acknowledges God for who He is and what He has done, in what he says and what he does (1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:23).  This passage speaks to what the worship of God looks like in the workplace.

Worship involves every aspect of us, and that applies to how we perform in our jobs: with our heart (“With sincerity of heart”), and our hands (“DO your work heartily”), and our heads (“KNOWING that from the Lord you will receive the reward”).  The Christian employee is not just working for an “earthly master” (Colossians 3:22), but ultimately for his “Master in heaven” (Colossians 4:1; 2 Corinthians 4:15).

So, we should seek to do our jobs as if we are working for the Lord Jesus Himself, because in essence, we are.  As Haddon Robinson has commented, “Your work may be tedious.  You may have an employer who doesn’t appreciate you or pay you what you’re worth.  You may want to quit.  But you are working for Christ.  Do your daily work so that your Master in heaven can one day say to you, ‘Good job.  Well done.’”

Sometimes things aren’t easy in the workplace, but it’s good then to remember that God is sovereign over the affairs of our lives.  God has worked to bring you into a job, so for as long as you are in that job you need to give it your all.  Be thankful for your job, there are others who aren’t so fortunate (Colossians 3:17).  Remember that you are serving Jesus in all that you do (Colossians 3:17).  You may have a difficult boss, but you serve a perfect Lord who knows of your struggles and your perseverance (Hebrews 4:15-16). 

Charles Spurgeon, “’Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.’ This saying ennobles the weary routine of earthly employments and sheds a halo around the most humble occupations. To wash feet may be servile, but wash his feet is royal work. To unloose the shoe is poor employ, but to unloose the master’s shoe is a princely privilege. The shop, the barn, the scullery, and the smithy become temples when men and women do all to the glory of God! Then ‘divine service’ is not a thing of a few hours and a few places, but all life becomes holiness unto the Lord, and every place and thing, as consecrated as the tabernacle and its golden candlestick.”

GIVE OF YOUR BEST TO THE MASTER

Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth;
Throw your soul’s fresh, glowing ardor
Into the battle for truth.
Jesus has set the example,
Dauntless was He, young and brave;
Give Him your loyal devotion;
Give Him the best that you have.

Refrain:
Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth;
Clad in salvation’s full armor,
Join in the battle for truth.

Give of your best to the Master;
Give Him first place in your heart;
Give Him first place in your service;
Consecrate every part.
Give, and to you will be given;
God His beloved Son gave;
Gratefully seeking to serve Him,
Give Him the best that you have. [Refrain]

Give of your best to the Master;
Naught else is worthy His love;
He gave Himself for your ransom,
Gave up His glory above.
Laid down His life without murmur,
You from sin’s ruin to save;
Give Him your heart’s adoration,
Give Him the best that you have. [Refrain]