Scripture | “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.” Colossians 3:23–25
Observation | The first lesson we learn in this text is that all, or “whatever,” we do ought to be in service to our great Master Jesus Christ. This comes out in the command “for the Lord rather than for men.” The word for “Lord” was originally Kyrios, meaning someone with authority such as a ruler, a commander, a master and a Lord. Therefore, our “whatever we do” is not for men, for their approval, their authority, their pleasure. They are not our masters or authorities. Those who truly know the Savior, now serve only one Master, Jesus Christ. This is Lordship salvation and it is both biblical (Rom 10:9-10) and often rebelled again by the “church.”
The second lesson we learn is that when we as a true believer serve our biblical roles (duties) to our spouse, our children, our parents, our siblings, our church family and our neighbor, we are serving Christ. Do we love them and self-sacrificially devout ourselves to them? If we are in Christ, then we serve Christ in this way. Do we neglect them and instead care for selfish pursuits? Then we do the same for Christ. Even a man’s employment should be seen as an opportunity to serve Christ, not just a means of providing for his family, which is another duty of service to his Master. Self-sacrificial service out of a loving obedience to our Savior-Lord brings heavenly treasure and eternal God-glorifying rewards. Neglect and self-seeking not only does wrong to others, but it does the Master wrong. God promises all will reap what they sow (Gal 6:7).
Third, we also learn here there are God given consequences to our sin, and God is not partial. “He who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.” Remember, Paul has been and is speaking to true believers. Some think the salvation of the Savior gives them freedom from His Lordship and His hand of discipline. They are gravely and perhaps eternally mistaken. God is our Father who is in heaven (Matt 6:9). He sees all. And like a loving father will not allow us to continue in error and sin (Heb 12:4–13). His rebuke, His conviction and His consequences are acts of His love (Rev 3:19). What is the result of this lesson? We are to be all the more “zealous and repent” (Rev 3:19).
At the end of our text we learn that God is without “partiality.” The original word for partiality means God does not show favoritism, even to His own people. If anything, a Father is more diligent to discipline His own, and judgement falls on them first (1 Pet 4:17). So, what will become of the careless and mindless child, servant or slave? What will they find when their Master no only disapproves, but brings consequences to their actions? The fact that the Lord is both our Master, Savior and heavenly Father means not that He removes consequences, but that He has all the more skin in the game and love for us to teach us accountability.
Application | So, Paul’s conclusion ought to be ours. Serve “heartily!” Serve and love those near us as we would love and serve Christ. And receive consequences of our wrongs in humility, instead of with the worldly blame and defensiveness. Why? That we might grow to better serve our Lord and glorify Him in all that we do.
Prayer | Father, I confess that I am self-seeking and sinful by nature. I have failed to work and serve and love as I ought to. Forgive me because of Your Son Jesus. Give me a greater love for Him. And make me serve whole heartily all who I can today. For You and Your glory alone. Amen.
