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You can find meaning in daily work, even if you don’t always like your job. It all starts with letting Jesus be supreme in your life.

Work is a part of life, and the Bible has plenty to say about work: what sort of work we should do, how we should do it, and why. In Colossians 3, the Apostle Paul gave some guidelines about how house slaves should work for their earthly masters. These verses probably don’t apply to us as “slaves,” but they do give valuable guidelines for how Christians should conduct themselves in the workplace – both as employees and employers.

Employees: Don’t Just Do the Minimum at Work

It’s easy for employees to do the bare minimum at work (Colossians 3:22) but God calls us to work well all the time, not just when our boss is looking over our shoulder.

Colossians 3:22-23 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

If you’re a Christian in the workplace, don’t milk the clock. Recognize God’s provision to you by giving you a way to earn money. Even if the work isn’t your favorite and your co-workers aren’t the best, God is sovereign over your situation. He knows why he has placed you in a job you might not have for the long haul, even if you can’t see why right now. If nothing else, you can be a light to the non-Christians at your job.

Employees: Don’t Forget Who Your Real Boss Is

Statistics vary, but if we work a full-time job, we on average spend anywhere from 30-40% of our lives at work. That’s why it’s so important to have a God’s-eye view of your work life. And that starts with recognizing that Jesus Christ, not any person, is our true master.

Colossians 3:23-25 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites.

If our goal is to honor Jesus through our work, it’s that much better at motivating us to do well in our work (Colossians 3:17). When we do a good job, it gives us a better witness with our co-workers, customers (if that’s a factor) and employers.

Bosses: Don’t Make Your Workers Hate Their Job

There is a flip-side for all of this for Christian employers: you have a responsibility to treat your employees well.

Colossians 4:1 Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven.

Colossians 3:18-4:1 is all about how different types of people should treat each other relationally, from husbands and wives to parents and children to masters and slaves. In all these cases, the follower is told to obey the leader, and the leader is told to care for and respect the follower.

Employers, then, should take these verses to heart. Treat those who work for you well, because you have a master in heaven who has treated all of us far better than we deserve. Whether we are employers or employees, all of us as Christians are meant to reflect the truth of what it means to be a servant of Jesus Christ.

Article for this topic by Daniel Martin.
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Key Points:

  • Employees: Don’t just coast at work. (Colossians 3:22-23a.)
  • Employees: Don’t forget who your real Boss is. (Colossians 3:23-25.)
  • Bosses: Don’t make your workers hate their job. (Colossians 4:1.)

Quote This:

Colossians 3:23-24 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.

See Also: Leadership, Sermonlink, Workplace

Talk About It
  1. What is your initial reaction to this topic? What jumped out at you?
  2. What are the biggest challenges about your current job?
  3. In what ways is ancient slavery like – and unlike – contemporary work?
  4. Read Colossians 3:22. What do you think motivates people to work only when someone is watching?
  5. By contrast, what does it mean to serve your employer sincerely?
  6. Read Colossians 3:23-24. What is your initial reaction to the idea that your real boss is Jesus Christ?
  7. How might work be different if you were working for the Lord rather than just for people?
  8. What advice would you give to someone whose earthly boss is ungodly, cruel or unfair?
  9. Read Colossians 4:1. Who do you think this verse applies to in today’s economic system, and why?
  10. What are some examples you’ve seen of a boss failing to be “just and fair”?
  11. By contrast, what are some specific ways that a supervisor or employer can be “just and fair”?
  12. Write a personal action step based on this conversation.

This is part of the Enough series. Click here for sermon resources.

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