Colossians 1:9 That is why we keep on talking to God about you since the day we heard about you. We ask him that you may know everything he wants you to do. We ask him that you may be very wise and that the Spirit will help you to understand.
10 We ask him that you will live the way the Lord wants you to live, so that you will please him in everything you do. We ask that you will do everything that is good. We ask that you will see the fruit from what you do. We ask that you will know more and more about God.11 God has wonderful power. And we ask him to give you all the strength you need to go through all your troubles, to be very patient in them, and to be happy.
12 Thank the Father who has made us ready to be with the people of God who live in his light.
| Day 14—There are Kingdom Principles for those who work in the service of others. |
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In the passage that follows in Colossians 3, Paul gives admonition to those who are in the service of others as “bond slaves.” It is interesting to note some of Adam Clarke’s comment on this:
“In heathen countries slavery was in some sort excusable; among Christians it is an enormity and a crime for which perdition has scarcely an adequate state of punishment.”
However, there are excellent words for us to consider who work in the employment of others.
Colossians 3:22-25—Servants (doulos, bond slaves), 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. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
There have been occasions in my own life when I have worked in secular employment, even after I had spent some good years of my life in “full-time” service for the Lord. In that time, I was never allowed of the Lord to consider myself as any other than a “full-time” servant of the Lord. Whatever I did, I was to do it heartily, as to the Lord. Of course, that’s possible. I was required of the Lord to serve my employer with integrity and honor. I found in those times much opportunity to minister Christ, without robbing time or resource from my employer. People who worked with me could see Christ in me. The secular working place is one of the greatest mission fields there is today.
It is interesting to note in Matthew 13, as Jesus explained the parable of the sower, He spoke of the seed he planted as the children of the Kingdom—verse 38. The field where He planted them was the world. The word used in the Greek New Testament in this verse for world is kosmos. This word most clearly means the secular order of affairs on earth. Is it strange that the Lord would speak of planting His children in the world? It is not a strange thing when we consider that the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.
DEAR LORD, as I walk among people of the world today, please let others see You in my life. Even if I am abused, even if my rights are violated, even if others push in ahead of me, help me act and react in a way that will glorify You.
Similar requirement are made of a Bishop.—I Timothy 3:1-7
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