Deeper Reflection
FOR CHRISTIAN WORKERS, OUR DAILY WORK − IN ALL their varied forms (“whatever you do”, v.23) − is the main way by which we worship God during the workweek. The Apostle Paul commands Christians to “work heartily⁶⁴, as for the Lord and not for men” (v.23). By our attitudes and conduct in the workplace, we are to evidence the Lordship of Christ over our lives and reflect the greatness and goodness of God in our lives.⁶⁵ Do you work with all your heart as for the Lord? Are you joyful and rested at work amid hectic schedules and heavy workloads? Does your behaviour show that your life is in God’s sovereign and loving hands and that He is fully in control? Do you do your best and leave the rest to God, trusting Him to provide, guide and watch over you? Are you honest, responsible and excellent in your work, thereby bringing glory to God?Christian workers are to obey their earthly bosses out of a reverent awe of God (“fearing the Lord”, v.22). So long as our bosses’ requirements or instructions do not contravene God’s laws, we should do the work to the best of our abilities, yet with due regard to our human limitations⁶⁶. We must not be working overtime all the time; proper boundaries must be drawn.⁶⁷ We want to worship God through our work, and not to worship our work as a false god (idolatry). We serve the Lord Jesus Christ, our ultimate Boss (v.24). To Him we must one day give a full account of our work and all our choices made regarding it.

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⁶⁴ NIV: “with all your heart”. Literally in Greek, “work from the soul”. ⁶⁵ “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (Col 3:17).” ⁶⁶ Let us remember that we are not machines and need adequate rest in order to exercise faithful stewardship of our bodies, and that apart from our work we also have responsibilities to family and friends. ⁶⁷ God Himself rested on the seventh day (Gen 2:2) and gave us the Sabbath pattern and principle for our benefit (Mk 2:27).