We have come to the end of chapter 3 and the very beginning of chapter 4. Paul just addressed what it looked like when someone in the family unit is controlled by the Spirit of Christ. For a wife controlled by the Spirit of Christ, we see her unconditionally submitting to her husband’s leadership. For a husband controlled by the Spirit of Christ, we see him unconditionally loving his wife as Christ loves the church. For a child controlled by the Spirit of Christ, we see him or her unconditionally submitting to his or her parents’ authority. When the family unit is functioning the way God intends it to function, it is a beautiful picture. It brings honor to God! Why don’t you just stop reading for a few minutes and pray individually for each member of your immediate family. I just stopped and prayed for my family – what a tremendous blessing God has given me in my family and for the ability to pray for each of them.
As we move on in Colossians, we move to the master/slave (boss/employee???) relationship. Now, it is interesting that Onesimus is one of the deliverers of this letter (cf. 4:9) to Colossae where a man named Philemon is located. Now, Onesimus was a runaway slave of Philemon (See Book of Philemon)! How do you think Onesimus and Philemon felt reading this portion of Colossians? Let’s read Colossians 3:22-4:1:
Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 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. Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.
Now, I would imagine that most people reading this devotion live in America. So, instead of reading this as masters and slaves, let’s try to apply it our lives. Let’s read it as bosses and employees. I realize that I am on thin ice anytime I change the focus of Scripture, but I think it is very safe to say that the principle that Paul is teaching here is the same between master/slave and boss/employee.
[Employees], in all things obey those who are your [boss] on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 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. [Bosses], grant to your [workers] justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven. (Colossians 3:22-4:1 with application of boss/employee inserted)
Who is the slave (or employee) really working for? The Lord! Vernon McGee explains this passage like this “If you are lazy on the job, you are not dedicated to Jesus Christ.” Yikes! Think about your job today. Are you working with a sincerity of heart? Is your motivation of doing a great job come from the fear of the Lord or some other motivation? Are you working heartily as for the Lord? Is it Christ you are serving or your earthly boss? We all have work that seems inconsequential at times. However, are we doing even those jobs as “unto the Lord”? And masters (or bosses), do you treat your employees with justice and fairness? I love that it says “knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.” The Lord is our true Master! Think about a slave for a moment – they wouldn’t have any inheritance on earth. However, as followers of Jesus Christ, they (and us) will have a tremendous inheritance. But it also says on the flipside “For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.” The Lord is a fair Master! As you work today or any day for that matter, may you do your work as unto Him for His glory as one day you will receive your true reward from the only wonderful Master. See you next week.