Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, Knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [and not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [real] reward. [The One Whom] you are actually serving [is] the Lord Christ (the Messiah). Colossians 3:23-24 AMPC
Context and Charge:
Work can be grinding, monotonous and boring but it is still called work because work is any activity involving mental or physical effort, applied in order to achieve a purpose or result. It then means that as long as the work I am called to do has a purpose or an end in view, it is not useless or pointless. Too many times, we are deceived by the visibility or viability of a particular role or work, and we think it is more important than others. Some other times, we want to define the value of work by the monetary value we get from it. We forget that work does not always have to pay you anything in physical currency for it to have eternal impact. The verse today makes it clear that WHATEVER my hands finds to do has become the work through which God wants to be glorified. Would I let God shine out through my work, whatever it may be?
I must also remember that the work must be one that God can take glory in. The excuse that it was the only work I could find will not be acceptable if it is sin. I cannot offer to God an offering with blemish, spot, stain or wrinkle. God does not and will not condone sin, and I must avoid it with all my heart. If I know who I am working for, and I have a clear idea of the reward that is coming, I will be careful to keep to the terms and reference of the work. I won't do it carelessly, but will strive to please the One who will appraise my work and reward me accordingly. The attitude with which I do the work is also important. I am a city set on a hill; all I do is laid bare before the eyes of people. I may deceive men for a while but eventually the truth behind my actions will be clear to all. Can I lay my heart bare before God today and ask him to pay me the just reward for my attitude to work? Would I be proud of what God will give me?
Conviction and Conclusion:
The clear understanding of who I work for guides the rest of the conversation. Men may reward based on physical metrics, but man's reward is only good for a season. Men may even not appreciate what you do, but never forget that all men will one day stand before the Lord to give an account of their lives. There is an inheritance waiting for me. While I am on earth, I work for God. Men may chose to reward me as best as they can, but the real deal is in eternity. Man's reward will expire; the one God gives will last forever. The inheritance is activated upon physical death or rapture, and I must work in the daily consciousness of this truth. Christ is the true master, the One who cannot be deceived or fooled by hypocrisy or eye-service. Now I know who is the true master; I must seek to please Him in every way. Eternity lies at the end of my daily decisions. God's time of favour is here.
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