Bible Text: Colossians 3 | Preacher: Rev. Dr. Lou Saldiveri | Series: Sunday Morning Worship

— Pastor Lou’s Notes —
Intro: There are some passages the we read and then ask what does this have to do with today and the situation in which I find myself? We need to do is try to understand this passage as the original readers would have understood it in their context and culture. Then you and I can ask the question, how does this passage apply to our situation today?

Even though Paul wrote about the slave and slave owner relationship, there are valuable principles which apply to today’s employer/employee relationship.

1. The First Principle: Work is sacred. Genesis 1:27-31
1. God originally created us to serve and glorify Him in our work
2. God also wanted us to enjoy work and the fruit of our work.
3. Sin made work labor and toil
4. The cross of Christ redeems and restores the sacredness of work
1. Carl Henry said, “When man loses the sacred significance of work and of himself as a worker, he soon loses the sacred meaning of time and of life.”

2. The Second Principle: Employees, obey your employers. v.22
1. Do excellent work whether or not the boss or owner is present
2. Do the work with sincerity (generosity) and integrity (loving obedience for the Lord)
3. Do the work as a service to the Lord v. 23
1. Work at it fully devoted (e.g. with all you heart and soul) to the task
2. Remember, you are working for the Lord, not for human masters (lords)
3. The Lord rewards and blesses obedient employees v. 24
4. The Lord will not bless disobedience no matter who you may be v. 25

3. The Third Principle: Masters must provide for their employees v. 4:1
1. They are ethically required to provide that is right and fair
1. How do we know what is right and fair? That must be determined by the principles of the Scripture under the direction of the Holy Spirit
2. They also will be held accountable by Christ in heaven

4. The Fourth Principle: Never loose sight of the ultimate goal
1. Bring glory to God
2. Honest excellent work will ultimate be rewarded by God
3. Honest excellent work brings present blessings
1. “There is a well worn story of a man who approached a laborer who was laying bricks and asked him, ‘What are you doing?’ The laborer said, ‘Can’t you see I am laying bricks?’ The man walked over to another bricklayer and asked, ‘What are you doing?’ And the workman answered with pride, ‘I’m building a cathedral.’ Both were physically doing the same thing. But the first laborer was occupied with the present task, and the other was concerned with the ultimate goal.”

Closing: Are we willing to do an honest personal evaluation concerning our work ethic? Review the four principles. I would like to suggest that these principles also apply to working in volunteer capacities. What ever work we do, weather or not we are paid or volunteer, we need to do it with excellence and glorify our Lord Jesus Christ.