Godly Work

Colossians 3:22-4:1

Reading before sermon

Romans

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Colossians 1:12-14

12 We give thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 3:1-4

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Donna Kennedy

Introduction

Read earlier – reasons/motivation for Godly in every area of life

· Because Christ - redemption and salvation

Two Key versus:

3:17: “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus”

3:23: Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men

Colossians chapter 3 and beginning of 4

· Personal - everything starts here –individual Godliness to be Godly

· As a Church family

· Household

· Last - Paul’s exhortations for Godly living in our work

Prase to remember:

Genuine service in honest work brings honor to God

Main Text

Colossians 3:22-4:1

22 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. 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

4 Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Genuine service in honest work brings honor to God

Exegesis

· Paul’s exhortations Godly living in work

· Bondservants/Slaves and masters = employees and employers

· Like wives and husbands, employees and employers are equal in every way - made in the image of God

· Just different roles

VS 22:

22 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.

· 2 responsibilities for worker’s

o Obey (submit) and serve employers genuinely

· “Eye service and people pleasers”: wanting to be noticed –

o Selfish gain - not affect Christians’ work

· “With sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.”:

o Fundamental motivation for Godly work = transformed heart and a wholehearted commitment to Lord

· This indicates a singleness of intention, a focus of purpose

VS 23

23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men…

· Again, Christians - not work for selfish gain but work “As for the Lord”

· Goes back to 3:17: “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus”

VS 24-25

24 …knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

3 motivations for believers to obey employers:

· 1st: fear of the lord:

o Holy and reverential fear of God that also extends to the employer

· 2nd: rewards: Are rewards promised and waiting for believers in heaven after a lifetime of faithful service to Jesus

o Jesus tells us to store up the treasures of Heaven not treasures on earth

o We work to “Serve the Lord Christ”

o Reward in Col 1:12: We are qualified “to share in the inheritance of the saints in light” – eternal life

· 3rd: “Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no partiality

o God’s impartiality in judgment

o Believers impartial in their treatment of others

VS 4:1

4 Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

· Motivation to masters - are slaves and were to treat those under them like they would like to be treated

· Our heavenly Master rules over all people regardless of their position

Nehemiah

· Jews were in exile – Babylon and Persia

In this event we see Nehemiah as both a Godly worker and employer

Many things we can learn from this event concerning our work life

· Nehemiah’s dedication to be obedient to God’s calling to rebuild the wall in Jerusalem

· Nehemiah’s willingness to be a servant leader, to work right alongside the Jews

· Nehemiah’s willingness to sacrifice food, etc to serve people and get job done

· Nehemiah’s leadership to adjust during project when obstacles came up – The opposition – To protect the people

· Handled injustices

· Motivated workers

· Prayed for all things during the building

In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.

3 They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”

4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept.

The king of Persia noticed Nehemiah’s sadness and after learning what it was, allowed him to travel to Jerusalem to re-build the wall.

11 I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days 12 I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem.

17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, 18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me.

They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.

When neighboring nations heard of Nehamiah’s plans they were enraged

8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. 9 But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.

20 I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding.

As time passed by, the people in Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.”

11 Also our enemies said, “Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.”

As their leader, Nehemaih assigned some of the Jews to stand guard and protect them

Nehemiah said, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” So they all returned to the wall, each to our own work.

21 We continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out.

5 After some time had passed, the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews. 2 Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain.”

6 When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. 9 I said, “What you are doing is not right. Nehemiah then corrected the injustices and the Jews obeyed his commands

14 From the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year—twelve years—neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. 16 Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people.

19 Remember me with favor, my God, for all I have done for these people.

Again, the enemy nations opposed us and sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.”

But they were scheming to harm me; 3 so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?”

9 They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.”

But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.”

15 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. This work had been done with the help of our God.

Genuine service in honest work brings honor to God

Conclusion

· All Paul’s exhortations - Godly living are principles important today

· Christians = called to live out our faith in whatever role we are in.

o Position of great authority or of little to no authority.

· Major theme – We have ultimate master reigning over - slave and master

· The text is clear: Main motivation for single-minded obedience

o Not human relationship – slave/master but our

o But saving relationship with Jesus

Helpful Application

· When understand that ultimately our work for Lord

o Help have a better and healthier attitude toward work

· Don’t like every part of job but principle can also help with patience

· Working as for the Lord =

o Make jobs enjoyable,

o Make it more important

o Purposeful

· Changing perspective regarding work - make all difference in the world

Genuine service in honest work brings honor to God