GODLINESS IN THE WORK PLACE 1
22 BONDSERVANTS, OBEY IN ALL THINGS YOUR MASTERS ACCORDING TO THE FLESH, NOT WITH EYESERVICE, AS MEN-PLEASERS, BUT IN SINCERITY OF HEART, FEARING GOD.
23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,
24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
25 BUT HE WHO DOES WRONG WILL BE REPAID FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE, AND THERE IS NO PARTIALITY."
Colossians 3:22-25 (NKJV)
"MASTERS, GIVE YOUR BONDSERVANTS WHAT IS JUST AND FAIR, KNOWING THAT YOU ALSO HAVE A MASTER IN HEAVEN."
Colossians 4:1 (NKJV)
In this part of the Bible chapter, the relationship between a master and servant are dealt with.
Whoever is serving or working under a master or leader are admonished to obey in all things (Titus 2:9).
Their obedience should not be in eyeservice, as menpleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God (Colossians 3:22).
Eyeservice or being as menpleasers is being hypocritical in the sight of God. Someone who professes to be a believer in Christ Jesus should not be hypocritical. Being hypocritical is being deceptive, not being honest and lacking in integrity.
One thing that many do not know is, If you claimed to be a believer but did not live in consistent with the Word of God, the principles found in the Bible, God would be hampered or hindered or incapacitated to do as much as He may wished to do in the matters of your life.
When you live contrary to the Word of God as a believer, you are undoing yourself.
Thus, If you are serving under someone, do and live according to the Word of God, the Bible, and let God reward or pay you and fight for or defend your interest.
If you are a laid-back person and not faithful in whatever you ought to do or you are assigned to do, If your master or boss started shortchanging your wages—give less than what you are due—God would not be able to defend you and reprove or deal with him or her, because you also who claimed to be His, of God, is also not faithful in your own part.
Note: If I may ask:
a. In all you do in your place of work, are you obedient and not doing your work with eyeservice?
b. Are you sincere in your heart, doing all you are doing with the fear of God (Colossians 3:22).
c. Are you not doing as a menpleaser? Are you faithful?
The admonition is, whatever you do, you should do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men (Colossians 3:23).
In other words, God should be your focus in whatever you do where you are working and in your relationship with your master or whoever you are working for.
To do your work as to the Lord and not to men means you are doing your work as If you are doing it for God and not your employer or boss. If I may now ask, Are you doing your work as to the Lord or you are doing it to please your boss?
The truth is, as a believer, as you are doing your work, God should be your focus and you should be able to see Him as the person you are working for.
An important caution is, If your obedience to this biblical injunction would work, you must be sure that God knows about where you are working—He must know that you are there and that with His approval.
If you are in a place of work that is not approved by God, it means you are on your own. Even if you work faithfully and tirelessly as to the Lord in the place, the fact that your presence there is not approved by God; It means God would not be able to defend your course or defend your interest If at all you are mistreated—cheated or deprived.
However, If your presence in the place is known and approved by God, and you do whatever you are doing there as to Him, God, you will receive the reward of the inheritance—for you serve the Lord Christ Jesus (Colossians 3:24).
This is the reason why, as a believer, you should carry God along in whatever you are doing and in your relationship with whoever you are relating with.
If you kept God abreast of—informed of—all your doing in your relationship with someone; a boss or master, a friend or business partner, and any acquaintance, God would be able to reveal the secrets of the person's heart.
If the person is planning any negative or evil thing in his or her heart, in your relationship with them, God would be able to weigh in or come in—to take on a specified role. Reveal the plot to you and defend or protect you. And He would be able to nullify or frustrate whatever the negative hidden plan the person may have in your relationship with him or her.
Carry God along in your relationship with your Boss, business partner, friends, acquaintances and whoever.
Let nothing about your life be hidden from God. Though, God knows all things, but He would want you to tell Him before He could intervene or meddle in or interfere in your affairs or relationship with anyone.
Peace.