Daily Bread - Colossians 3:18-4:1
Title: Proper respect
Colossians 3:18-4:1
Key Verse 23
This passage starts off with very practical advice - be obedient to the respective authority in your life, whether that be parents or masters. It is good to be respectful. Then, you hit verses 23-24 and it takes a twist on perspective:
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
As we are to love God with all our heart and all our mind and all our strength, we are to do all that we do with a mind to glorify him, and not ourselves. Even in matters of social duty, we are to have our minds set on Jesus, not only on the person we are honoring. This should make it easier for me to be sincere and respectful when I have to do things I don't like for people toward whom I don't have a deep loyalty. I need to remember to work at it with all my heart!!
Ok, but here is the trouble. I don't feel that I deserve any reward from God, so I have some trouble with verse 24... I should be so happy and filled with determination to work hard and seek good gifts, just as I work hard to earn money and buy stuff. But,...to me it seems so selfish. Shouldn't it be enough to serve God because He is worthy?
One Word: Work hard for God
(Nehemiah worked hard!! ^_^ Ok, now I gotta put word into action and face this presentation...)
Colossians 3:18-4:1
Key Verse 23
This passage starts off with very practical advice - be obedient to the respective authority in your life, whether that be parents or masters. It is good to be respectful. Then, you hit verses 23-24 and it takes a twist on perspective:
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
As we are to love God with all our heart and all our mind and all our strength, we are to do all that we do with a mind to glorify him, and not ourselves. Even in matters of social duty, we are to have our minds set on Jesus, not only on the person we are honoring. This should make it easier for me to be sincere and respectful when I have to do things I don't like for people toward whom I don't have a deep loyalty. I need to remember to work at it with all my heart!!
Ok, but here is the trouble. I don't feel that I deserve any reward from God, so I have some trouble with verse 24... I should be so happy and filled with determination to work hard and seek good gifts, just as I work hard to earn money and buy stuff. But,...to me it seems so selfish. Shouldn't it be enough to serve God because He is worthy?
One Word: Work hard for God
(Nehemiah worked hard!! ^_^ Ok, now I gotta put word into action and face this presentation...)