Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people, because you know that you will receive your inheritance from the Lord as the reward. Serve the Lord Christ.
Into the Text
After dealing with family relationships, Paul now addresses slaves and masters. A modern day application here would be employees and employers. As a Christian, if you are working for someone, you have a much higher calling than just getting a paycheck. You are a representative of Jesus Christ. As such, you should work hard, all the time, and not just when your boss, or other people you may want to impress, are looking.
Paul says that ultimately you are to do every job “as to the Lord and not for people.” When you sweep the kitchen floor, do it for Jesus. When you cook a meal or bake a cake, do it for Jesus. When you have to sit at an office desk or study at college, do it for Jesus. When you iron your husband’s shirt or clean up your children’s mess, do it all for Jesus.
This means doing our jobs with God in view and not to impress those around us. We should do them sincerely, really meaning them for the good of others. We should do them with a desire to glorify God in how we work, not half-heartedly but by putting our whole self into it. And we should work believing that there is a reward for diligence in heaven.
God tests our faithfulness, even in the small jobs. He sees how we do our work. This should give us real enthusiasm!
Let’s remember that whatever reward Jesus will give us in the future will be far greater than any money or appreciation we could wish for from our bosses, friends, or family members.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for giving me the ability to work. May all that I do be found faithful and to your glory. Amen.