Work Orders:  Who’s the boss?

In respect to Labour Day here are the notes from Sunday’s talk at Cityview.

The Big Idea:  Who you work for makes all the difference:  people or the Lord Jesus.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord you are serving.
Colossians 3:23-24

1. The church is distinctive within society as a community of people because of their allegiance to Jesus Christ.

“Since, then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.”  Col 3:1

“Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.”  Col 3:11

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

2. Work constitutes an enormous slice of our lives in society in terms of time but also in terms of identity.  Society in the Mediterranean world of the New Testament had a general classification of people as slave or free.  Our application bridge today for the text is to read for insight as employees or as employers.

God wants you to know that WHO you work for makes all the difference!  When we work for Jesus our Lord:

We are responsive to our employers.  Vs. 22

We go beyond “eye service” and “people-pleasing.”  Vs. 22

Our work style is characterized by sincerity, singleness of heart, and passion.  Vs. 24

No matter the job, it is a job done in service of Jesus.   Vs. 24

No matter the job, it is a job done in service to Jesus.   Therefore it is worth doing with attentiveness and excellence.  Vs. 23  (In a free society we are also called upon to weigh out the matters of integrity between the Lordship of Jesus and what we invest our lives in as work.)

3. When Jesus is the boss, you can count on a reward—an eternal reward.

“…you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.”  Col 3:24
4. We all, employees and employers, stand before Jesus as He judges what we have done.  Vs. 3:25, 4:1  Salvation is according to grace.  Judgment is according to works.  God impartially judges employees and employers—no favoritism.

“So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”  2 Corinthians 5:9-10

“For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God.”  1Pet4:17

5. Question:  What does the quality and the attitude of your work reveal about the allegiance of your heart?

6. Take action:  The critical distinction between the community of Christians and society is the issue of “Who’s the boss?”  Set apart Christ as Lord (1 Peter 3:15)  The apostolic instruction on living in society flows from instruction on living in Christian community.

Christ is your life.   New community in Christ.   Households & Society.

Col 3:1-8                           Col. 3:7-16 Col                        3:18-4:1

People grow in Christ when they are ready, especially when they already have two ways of life in place:  1.  relationships with the community of Christ—the church and 2.  habitual life in the word of Christ.

“ Let the peace of Christ rule your hearts since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another …  Col 3:15-16