Work With Heart

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men. Col. 3:23
This verse raises three basic questions:
1) What is your work?
2) What is your motivation to work?
3) Whom do you work for?
Your Work
Colossians 3:23 was addressed to slaves. Though you may slave at your job, the Colosse workers were actual slaves—conquered peoples in service to Roman citizens. They had menial, routine, and dangerous days and little control over their work. By contrast, we usually have options for the kind of work we do. And a degree of control over how we do it. Ironically, with freedom and control come a great deal of responsibility—and therefore stress! Colossians 3:23 reminds us that God cares about our work regardless of our station—whether we are day laborers or corporate executives. Whatever we do for work, our relationship to God can affect how we do our work.
Your Motivation
The word "heartily" means to put heart into—to perform with a positive attitude. But that can be a tall order! Especially when work is going poorly, or the boss is dissatisfied, or problems (or problem people) hinder us from getting work done.
How can we "put heart into" our efforts under adverse circumstances? The rest of verse 23 is the answer: We decide whom we are working for. We'll look at that in a moment. But first, consider that to work heartily is as much about motivation as character. If you find yourself miserable at work, it may be the wrong job for you. A clear connection exists between job fit and joy and satisfaction. So if you grit your teeth driving to work, perhaps you need to identify how God designed you, then seek a job that makes better use of that design. Unlike the Roman slaves, you probably have options. (Of course, keep doing your best while in your current job.)
Your Boss
No matter your employer—even if you're self-employed—your ultimate boss is the Lord. Every time you take a phone call, send an email, make a decision, converse with a coworker, deal with a customer, break for lunch, or cash a paycheck, the Lord sees your work. That truth ought not to cause fear, but joy! You work for the Lord! The Lord who is good, fair, and honest. The Lord who gave you your talents. The Lord who gives you work itself as a gift (see Eccl. 5:18-19). The Lord is the boss every one of us wants. According to Colossians 3:23, we do work for Him. If we take that perspective with us to work—we can work with joy.

SELF-CENTERED OR CHRIST-CENTERED LIFE

Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life?" (Matthew 16:24–26)

We all begin life totally self-centered. With time and experience, most of us become less so, more invested in others. But the transition is neither automatic nor easy. Throughout our lives, our culture pushes us toward self-centeredness . . . and, that is no way for adults to live. In fact, it is opposed to life as God intends it.

Contrary to cultural pressure, Jesus calls us into life centered totally in Christ. In our text, Jesus issues three interlocking demands. When obeyed, these mandates lead us out of self-centeredness into life in joyful service to others.

"Deny yourself!" means saying no once and for all to self-interest, which constricts and destroys our true selves, others, and our environment. Jesus knows we are created for something grand. But until we repudiate all that fosters self-preoccupation, we will never participate in anything of lasting value.

"Take up your cross" willingly—today and every day. Jesus calls us to center our daily lives on, in, for, and through him. Publicly, life in Him includes suffering, ridicule, even death. Our culture supports a privatized Jesus and public religious behavior as long as it never offends, challenges, or opposes worldly principalities that oppose The Man and His message. Christ-centered living daily accepts the occasions God places in front of us to serve in the name and power of Jesus. Thus we take up our cross daily; but the world is hostile to such selfless freedom.

Abiding in Him, we slowly and surely become more like Him. Through the power of His presence in the center of our will, Jesus transforms us from the inside out, lifting us from the sludge of self-centeredness to the freedom of centered selves in sacrificial service to others. Such is the way to secure whole, centered, and abundant life that endures forever.