Jesus and Your Job

We are the body and Christ is the head. We are knit together as one. It's such an intimate walk that is so intertwined that you no longer have to ask how your actions and thoughts affect them. As close as a neck is to a head. We've been vitally united with Him and that has implications for everything. There's not a part of us that's withheld from Him. Every decision and allegiance is completely informed by Him.

What does it look like to live in union with Jesus? So far, we've looked at.

• How does He impact my thought life? What I entertain in my mind and believe informs my convictions. Set your mind on things above. Our thoughts are shaped by thoughts of Him.
• How do you interact with others? We have compassion for one another.
• How do we interact with those in our home? There's a sacrifice and responsive nature between husband and wife.

Colossians 3:22-25 focuses on the bondservant.

There were people in positions of power that came to faith in Jesus, but it was predominantly a movement of the powerless. It took people that were disenfranchised in society and told them they had dignity and value. God had a purpose and plan for them.

The reason the bondservant is addressed right after those in the home is because they often worked in the home alongside the family. You spend the majority of your waking hours with your coworkers. Paul looks at how you treat your boss and then the work itself.

Colossians 3:22

• The Greek word for "obey" is a combo of "listen" and "under". It's an attentiveness, coming under the other in service. Serve others in a way that they don't even have to ask: you're already meeting the need.
• It's not taken into account if they are a good boss or a bad boss. The command is the same, obey your earthly boss. He uses the word earthly on purpose because you are still under a Heavenly authority, so obey to the point that you can maintain integrity. If they call on you to disobey God, you don't violate your own integrity.
• Eye-service means don't just work when they are watching.
• People pleaser means you get their attention so they like you. Kissing up to elevate yourself.
• Sincerity of heart means there's a singleness, not duplicity, to your motives and work. We this way because we fear the Lord.

Why would someone work in a way trying to get noticed by their boss so that their boss likes them?

• Anxiety- you have to do a good job so you don't get fired or miss out on a promotion.
• Ambition- You are there to elevate you, climb the ladder.

If you are trying to manipulate your boss, it's because you don't fear the Lord. If you feared the Lord, than you would believe that He guides your story, not your employer. You work in anxiety and ambition because of fear, but it's a misplaced fear. It's a lack of faith.

Colossians 3:23- Heartily in Greek is "ek psyche" meaning "from the soul". We are soul workers. We do something good from the inside of us wanting to what's been put in front of us by God.

Why?

1) Purity of motivation: I am going to work out of a purity that I am doing the work because work is good.

2) Industry of action: I work hard from the soul, from the depths of me.

It honors God. In Genesis 1-3, God loves work! He does it Himself and then commands it of men. Use your skills to benefit yourself and others. Work wasn't frustrating until after the Fall.

Do work because God created you to work. God controls your inheritance. When you work from ambition and anxiety, it steals the joy of work. Believe it or not, there can be joy and satisfaction in a job well done. He's given skills and strength to you to use for His glory. The more you care about the Sovereignty of God, the more free you are to enjoy your work.

Bosses tend to notice when they are being manipulated. They pick up on the eye-service and people pleasing. They are looking for someone who does the work and does it well. You don't have to worry about being noticed, just be good at what you do and you'll be noticed. God will elevate you when it's time. Good work won't be denied. See Proverbs 22:29. God purposely put Moses and David out with dirty sheep. It's where they learned the skills that they would need to lead people later. Joseph developed his skills and talents while in jail that made him ready for the job Pharaoh was giving him.

God runs your story. You never know what He is preparing you for. Just serve where He's placed you and develop skills in the quiet places now so you'll be ready when He says it's time.

Colossians 4:1- God runs the show. He tells the bosses to lead justly and fairly because they answer to Him. Those who serve and those who lead, everyone is equal in the eyes of God.

If you have lived in anxiety and ambition, it's a lack of faith. But once you bring that before the Lord, grace rushes in. Grace will forgive you for making a mess, but it places you right back on the road He'll have you go.