Thursday, June 25, 2026
Please Christ, not Man – Colossians 3:22b-4:1 Submitted by Kay Crumley
I have verse 23 engrained in my mind because as a child growing up on a farm I spend a lot of time with my Dad. He would often quote the message to me about doing the best I could at whatever I did because all is to be done for the Lord not people. I probably thought, as a child, that he was just trying to make me try harder to do my best.
This chapter of Colossians is about more than our work. Paul is writing to the church in Colossae from prison to believers who had cultural influences ‘water down’ Jesus’ teachings. He is trying to get them back into line with his teaching when the church was first established there. Chapter 3 opens with what it means to be a new man, how that is different from life before becoming a Christ follower and how to live out that life as a new creation. Beginning in verse 18 through 4:1 Tony Evans titles that section as Kingdom People in the Home, on the Job and in the Church. Paul is giving practical instruction of how the Christian life it different from the pagan or non-Christian life.
Wives submit to you husbands and husbands love your wife. The relationship between them is to be respectful and loving. The husband is the head of the house but is to be considerate of the wife who submits to his Christlike authority in the home.
Children obey your parents as is commanded in the Ten Commandments. However, parents don’t exasperate your children. Parents are to teach their children the ways of the Lord as their lifestyle are in alignment with God’s Kingdom.
Thirdly, Paul addresses the treatment of slaves within the household. He is addressing the societal conditions of the day, not advocating slavery. This can be interpreted in today as how employers treat their employees and the response of Christian employees. Employees should obey their bosses sincerely, with their best effort. He admonished them not to only work diligently when the boss is watching.
Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, 24 knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong he has done, and there is no favoritism. 1 Masters, deal with your slaves justly and fairly, since you know that you too have a Master in heaven.
The point my Dad always made was to do the best you can at everything you are asked to do because God is the ultimate One is charge and makes the final judgement as to the effort and product. As Christian employees we must realize that the ultimate reward is not an earthly reward. All we do is to bring honor and glory to Him. A poor effort on the part of a Christian reflects badly on our Father. The One we serve is our Heavenly Father, not the earthly employers. You receive pay back for wrongdoing if you fail to follow Christian character or principles on the job.
Paul also addresses the Master or employer. They are to treat those under their authority both justly and fairly. Why? Because we all have a Master and God is Master over all.
Paul advises all to behave in a manner of justice and fairness regardless of their position or power. The reward that matters is the one we will be given by our Heavenly Father, our eternal inheritance with Him in Heaven.
