Who I Work For

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

It is the Lord Christ you are serving.  Colossians 3:24b

Read: Colossians 3:23-24

Paul’s statement on work seismically shifts the nature of work. Twice he tells us to work for the Lord. Work isn’t for the people in charge—it’s for God. Imagine hearing that for the first time. In some ways, it would be freeing—but at the same time, this raises the bar. Paul makes it clear that all work should be considered God’s work.

We don’t have to be a pastor for our work to matter. Our work matters because we are working for God—whether we are working at home, from home or washing dishes in a nursing home. The type of work has nothing to do with it. William Tyndale wrote, “If we look externally, there is a difference between washing dishes and preaching the word of God, but as touching to please God there is no difference at all.  That’s a Biblical view of work that there’s no difference when done to the honor of the Lord between preaching and washing the dishes.”

It can be easy to forget that we work for God because the direct-deposit doesn’t say something like “The Lord Almighty.” Instead, it just lists the company name. It is demanding to bring our best to creating order from chaos every day. We might not feel like what we do matters or that anyone really notices. This passage is a timely reminder that we work for Jesus.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

Memorize Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Download this lock screen to remind you as you start this week.

Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.