Pursuing Excellence in the Christian Life

The clear teaching of God’s concern over our hearts reaches from the beginning of the world throughout the story of Scripture. God declares, most clearly in His Son, that it is the heart God is after in those He created. As such, because our hearts have been changed by Christ through faith, we have an opportunity to pursue excellence in all we do as we live for Jesus with all our heart. Today’s passage reveals the lenses through which we ought to live for Christ with all our heart…

The Scope of Our Service (“Whatever you do…”)

Paul begins by exhorting the Colossians to do everything with all of their heart for God.

In our passage today Paul repeats what has already been said in verse 17, but gives us some examples of living wholeheartedly for Jesus, particularly in the family unit

Living for Jesus changes your marriage- Paul tells those in Colossae who are wives and husbands to mirror Christ in their union. The wife submits and honors her husband and his leading. The husband loves (sacrificially) his wife and is kind to her. Thus, marriage becomes a glorifying relationship to Jesus.

Living for Jesus changes your parenting/children-Paul goes on to say that children ought to be obedient to parents and parents ought to be loving and understanding to their children. This includes encouraging kids and looking out for their best interest.

Living for Jesus changes your work-In the immediate context Paul is referring to slaves in the Roman Empire. Though seen by the majority as simply property, Paul exhorts even these to live and word with all their heart. Though slavery in this since is eradicated from our country today, this employer-employee relationship still holds true in our everyday vocations

Essentially, Paul’s exhortation is that in every act you do and every word you say, it should be done with all your heart.

Our efforts as Christians should far exceed those of any other group of people in this world.

“The Christian shoemaker does his duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes, because God is interested in good craftsmanship.” -Martin Luther (maybe)

What things have you neglected to do with all your heart as a Christian?

Have you ever thought about God wanting you to do everything well?

2. The Focus of Our Service (“as for the Lord and not for men” “you are serving the Lord Christ…”)

The reality of doing everything for God cannot simply come from a mental toughness, or a gritty determination. Rather, Paul’s emphasis for the focus of our lives provides the means to serve the Lord in all we do well!

In the context of our passage, Paul exhorted slaves to work not simply to please their masters, but to please their true Lord who is Jesus. As such, they were to “do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (3:17).

The work of the slave, or the wife, or the husband, or the children, or the individual self was to be done in obedience primarily to Christ!

God cares about the work that He has given us to do, and while being a good worker in the home, at the ball field, or in the office is beneficial to society, it is to God that we should dedicate all of our work!

This should eliminate the desire in every thing we do to simply “get through with it.” Primarily, because whatever we have God has given us both the will and the strength to do it for His glory (Philippians 2:12-13).

Matthew 25:24-25 (The wicked servant allowed His view of the Master to cloud His work for Him)

Those who do not seek to glorify God and pursue excellence for Him either do not have a heart for God, or do not view their responsibilities as coming from Him to give Him glory.

Do you view your vocation, family, and personal hobbies as opportunities to be obedient to the Lord and bring Him glory? If not what has changed in your vision of the Lord?

What does a lack of the pursuit of excellence in all we do (be it church, business, or personal matters) truly reveal about our heart?

3. The Reward of Our Service (“knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward..”)

Paul continues to relate to the Colossians (specifically those enslaved) of the promise of eternal reward in heaven for those who faithfully perform their work as unto the Lord and not themselves.

The guarantee of God who is impartial, meaning he will do what is right, is that they will inherit both an eternal home and rewards as they give an account before the Lord.

Moreover, this serves as a warning to those who do not serve others rightly (in the context speaking of the slave masters; 4:1) that God will judge their unjust works.

Particularly, this allows us to further focus upon the necessity of doing all things in obedience to God. By His grace we have been granted responsibilities and opportunities for service, but we must also recognize that it is not for pay increases, social ladder-climbing, or the applause of men that we pursue excellence in our lives, it is because we want to please the One “to whom we must all give an account” (Romans 14:12).

After the downfall of Israel’s first king, a man of stature and renown known as Saul, God dispensed the prophet Samuel to the home of a man named Jesse in the city of Bethlehem. Like vacuuming the guest bedroom when someones comes for dinner, Jesse pulled out all the stops and brought forth his best and brightest sons. After all, someone was going to be known as king around the house after this visit from God’s man. Yet, as the visit wore on Jesse ran out of sons for God to say “this is my man.” Perturbed, Samuel asked if there were any left for him to bring. As a matter of fact there was, but Jesse left him out to tend the family animals. Not thinking him a worthy candidate to enter the home. Yet, it was this young, ruddy boy who God would declare as the next king. Though no doubt an inconceivable choice to all of those gathered in the Bethlehem home, God revealed His true motives in choosing those who would serve Him, “I the Lord look on the heart, not simply outward appearance” )1 Samuel 16:7).

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