Why are we told that whatever we do, we are to do it heartily as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23)?

We have taken up the case of an ordinary domestic servant in order to illustrate that special line of practical truth now under our consideration. Is it not most blessed for us to know that our God graciously condescends to connect His name and His glory with the very humblest duties that can devolve upon us in our ordinary domestic life? It is this which imparts dignity, interest and freshness to every little act, from morning till night. "Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men." Here lies the precious secret of the whole matter. It is not working for wages, but serving the Lord Christ, and looking to Him to receive the reward of the inheritance.

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Col. 3:23). These words were written to those who, in Paul's day, were slaves. A slave's life in those days could be hard, depending on the disposition of the master. Whatever the case was, they were exhorted to work heartily. Although they had an earthly master they were to look above to their Master in heaven. They were to please Him. A remarkable dignity was put upon these slaves when Paul writes, “for … ye serve the Lord Christ”. Although slavery, as known in Paul's day, may no longer exist, there is still an obligation on the part of the Christian employee to render service heartily as to the Lord.

Verse 23, though especially addressed to slaves, may be taken to heart by every believer. What a difference it will make in our whole existence if we do everything heartily Lord, rather than grudgingly or unwillingly! This attitude will make pleasant even irresponsibilities.

Doing all things heartily as to the Lord gives present reward, even if it is only in the joy of the Lord's approval; but verse 24 speaks of the future inheritance, a reward for all believers, but especially to be valued by slaves who have no earthly inheritance of any kind. For above all, "You serve the Lord Christ." Keeping their eyes in this way higher than their earthly master, there is true dignity in serving.

"Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh." This is very important. Feelings, habits, etc., no doubt, have been brought in by Christianity — difficulties also (not that these ought to have been, but by reason of a fleshly mind) all these arose. A bondman found himself suddenly a brother to his master; if he did not watch, he would soon begin to judge his master, whether he ought to say this or do that. If his master blamed him for anything, he might consider his master to have acted in a hard, fleshly way. How easy it is to slip into a wrong spirit, especially for a servant in presence of his master's infirmities daily before him, and in danger of judging his master according to the evil thoughts of his own heart! But surely a man ought to do all better after, than before, he knew Christ. The notion that, because they have to do with Christians, the latter ought to put up with ill-done duties is all selfishness. The fact that servants are not bondmen now in no way alters the matter. In those days they had often to serve heathen masters. In any case the great thing is to remember the Lord Jesus and His will in every place. We belong absolutely to Him to do His bidding in all things. In order to walk well with God, let me take care that I am in a position according to His will where I have no qualms of conscience. A scrupulous conscience however is dangerous, though far preferable to a burdened or bad conscience; but it is dangerous, for the strain tends to break and to end in a bad conscience. There is no place in this world where one may not glorify God, sin of course excepted.

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ." vv. 23, 24. But not so occupied with the fact that you are serving an earthly master; remember, "ye serve the Lord Christ." Thus will you be the more subject to your earthly master, doing heartily whatsoever ye do, not as being right only but with heart. The Apostle adds a remarkable word here, "he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done, and there is no respect of persons." v. 25. This takes in both the present and the future, as I suppose, being a general principle.

But mark the counsels of grace under these exceptionally bitter circumstances. They are not to plan and plot to cast off their shackles and assert their rights. They are not to give way to sour, sullen, and vindictive feelings, but to become, on the contrary, patterns of faithful and diligent service. They are to be the more scrupulous to obey their lords in every particular. They are to throw their whole hearts into their work, doing it as to the supreme Lord and not to man. They are to avoid being punctilious merely in what meets the master's eye and slovenly in everything else. Such inconsistent conduct may befit men-pleasers, but it is a disgrace to Christians who are God-pleasers. Even in the extreme case of slavery, unrighteousness in the master would not excuse unrighteousness in the servant.

What do we find then is given as a safeguard against this men-pleasing eye-service? The elevating and ennobling thought that we serve the Lord Christ. Our work is for the eye of the Lord in heaven, not alone for the eye of the master on earth. Suppose it to be the common drudgery of the most menial of slaves, it should, nevertheless, be done for the Lord of all.

How it brightens and beautifies the daily round of duty to be looking for the approval of Christ! What a difference it makes in posting a ledger, or in planing a cross-grained plank, or in mastering the conjugation of a difficult verb, to realise that our loving and patient Lord stands at the elbow to mark our efforts and to reward our diligence.

Thus the servants are put down in the presence of the Lord. They are the servants of Christ, and they are to do the will of God from the heart, and their eye is to be fixed on the Lord alone. And in the recollection of this lies the secret of all happy, cheerful service, of all true obedience, and also of being altogether independent of the character of their masters. Christian servants would avoid many a snare, if this were kept before their minds; and thus exalting Christ in their service would, indeed, adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour in all things.

"Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men: knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ." (3:22-24)

The service of bondslaves is spoken of, but true service in any direction is only carried out as it deserves to be carried out for the Lord if the eye looks on to the end of the path of service. The Lord Christ pays good wages, He even pays a bonus at the end of the path of service, the recompense of the inheritance. Just think of it, we are going to share with Him in that glorious inheritance which He is destined to take up in the day of His coming glory knowing that of the Lord we shall receive the reward of the inheritance.

There is no disgrace attaching to the bond-service of the slave of Jesus Christ; for the dignity of His service is such that the meanest task becomes a matter of honoured privilege to those who know that they "serve the Lord Christ."

As to what one can do for the Lord, it is helpful to read Colossians 3:23-24, which was probably written to those who were menial servants, perhaps slaves: "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord... for ye serve the Lord Christ." Thus we learn that we can do our everyday, commonplace work as unto the Lord and serve Him in it. So whatever is given us to do, we are to do it heartily as to the Lord and glorify Him in it. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might" (Eccl. 9:10), is another helpful and encouraging word for our guidance in the matter of service for the Lord. Of Mary the Lord said, "She hath done what she could" (Mark 14:8). This is all that He expects of each of us. If we have a heart that is willing to serve the Lord and desirous of doing whatever He directs us to do, be it ever so small and commonplace, we will soon find that which we can do in service for Him and precious souls.

(a) "Not with eye-service, as men-pleasers." The eye is not to be upon the countenance of the master. If it be, the temptation will of necessity be to please him, and thus to be a man-pleaser. The slightest duty is robbed of its value before God, if done to men instead of to Himself. That were to walk by sight, and not by faith.