Thursday, September 24, 2009
Resurrection Purpose
(Colossians 3:22-25)
For the committed believer who daily recognizes himself as identified with Christ in His death and resurrection, even the mundane tasks of life acquire spiritual significance. The matter of identification with Christ is not a pie-in-the-sky theory. Practically speaking, it lives in us as we allow Christ to live through us. And, when Christ lives through us, His influence touches every aspect of our lives.
In today’s passage, Paul admonishes believers to recognize the relationship between their careers and Christ. Biblical Christianity makes no distinction between the secular and the sacred. Dr. Bob Jones Sr., founder of Bob Jones University, used to say, “All ground is holy ground and every bush a burning bush.” It makes good sense, then, that our faith be reflected in our workplace habits.
First, Paul admonishes servants to obey their masters (22). The 21st century corollary, of course, is that employees obey their employer. Ultimately, our obedience must be to Christ; therefore, if our employers ask us to disobey Scriptural commands or principles, we must make appropriate appeals. Should appeals fail, we may find ourselves seeking other employment.
Obedience, however, is not merely a horizontal issue—an issue between employee and employer alone. Paul makes it clear that the ultimate issue is vertical—between God and me (23). My responsibility is ultimately to God is to God, and my ultimate reward comes from Him (24)! All work should be done “heartily, as to the Lord!”
