Introduction
In the Welsh countryside was a church that had been growing steadily for the past several years. The pastor, of course, was very pleased with the growth, but he had a suspicion that it was not everything that could be if more people were faithful to share the hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ with those they knew and met. One Sunday evening he decided to test his theory. He asked everybody who had been won to Christ by someone else in the room to stand. There were scores of them, and those who had been members for decades gasped at the growth they had vaguely known about but until now had not seen. One by one the pastor asked these people to name the person who had led them to Jesus. Most of the people name one man – an uneducated coal miner who had shoulders wider than the chapel door frame and hands that could double as dinner plates. The pastor asked many of them, how did he do it? The whole church knew the man wasn’t polished. Each replied with something similar. After his conversion the miner had set out to be a witness for Jesus Christ. He knew there wasn’t much he could do, but he could be the best worker in the place. Some of the others complained, once a boss even reprimanded him, but the miner always replied that he was working for Jesus now and he couldn’t slow down. Slowly, his coworkers stopped cursing at him when he mentioned the Lord. After several years, they explained, he had won their respect by continuing to work for Jesus. They began to ask the miner about his faith. One at a time he told them of the precious blood of Jesus which cleanses from every sin, and the overwhelming love of God that makes sinners His children. And so it was that now so many of them were faithful members of the church – won in part by the way a man worked. Colossians 3:22-4:1 gives us a blueprint for working as Christians. Whether we are an employee or an employer, God has guidelines and principles to show us how to be a testimony in the way we work. Are you ready to work so that people can see that you are working for a new Master?
Observation
Pray
Pray before reading and studying this passage that the Lord will give you wisdom and understanding through it. Ask Him to show you errors in what you think or have been taught and ways that you can live these truths in your own daily life.
Read Focus Verses
Read Colossians 3:22-4:1 and notice to whom these verses are especially addressed.
To Whom?
Who is the main audience for these verses?
Keyword – Employer/Employee
Using this symbol to mark the words of employers and employees in these verse will help you remember the theme of this passage.
Employer/Employee
Theme
Mark the words for employers and employees in Colossians 3:22-4:1.
Context
These verses are addressed to employers and employees, but you’ll find out more about these particular colleagues in Colossians 3:1-4, which opens this discussion of what it looks like to live like a Christian in every area of life.
Different
What is to set these employers and employees addressed in this chapter apart from the regular worker according to Colossians 3:1-4?
Instructions
What are the two instructions God gives to employees in verses 22-23?
Explained
How does God explain what it means to obey your boss in the second half of verse 22?
Ultimate Boss
Who does a Christian ultimately seek to please in their work according to verse 23?
A Good Reason
What reason does God give for these commands in verse 24?
Why?
What other reason does God give for these commands in verse 25?
Employers
What command does God give to employers in chapter 4:1?
Why?
Why are employers given this command?
Who?
Who is the ultimate Boss whether you are an employee or an employer according to this passage?
Interpretation
Eyeservice
In your own words, what does it mean to work in singleness of heart to the Lord and not as a man pleaser only when people can see you?
Everything
Employees are told to obey in everything – and not just when the boss is looking. But is there an exception to this? Notice what Peter says with God’s approval in Acts 4:19.
God Rather Than Men
Read Acts 5:29 and notice how similar it is to our passage in Colossians.
Biblically Speaking
The Bible commands people to obey government and employers. Is there ever a time when God wants you to disobey someone to whose authority He has told you to obey? If so, when?
Why?
If you think about the Bible’s reasons why a Christian is supposed to obey authority, why should a Christian obey God instead of someone God typically wants them to obey when that authority disagrees with God?
An Example
This short movie clip from the film “Courageous” shows how one person might recognize God as the ultimate Authority while still respecting his earthly authority as much as possible.
Heartily
Verse 23 urges us to work heartily. Notice what Ecclesiastes 9:10 says about this.
Inheritance
In verse 24 Christian employees are promised an inheritance from the Lord if they work as Christians for Jesus Christ’s sake whether or not their boss is a Christian. Read about that inheritance in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15.
Reward
Just like there is reward for doing good, there is reward for doing evil in verse 25. What does it mean that God does not respect one person over another when He rewards for doing wrong?
Thinking Rightly
1 Timothy 6:1-2 teaches employees how to think about their bosses.
The Good and the Bad
1 Peter 2:18 also speaks of the relationship between an employee and their employer.
In Your Own Words
How would you restate what these passage say in your own words?
Cross Reference
Before looking at the section for employers, take a look at Ephesians 6:5-9, noticing the similarities between the passages.
Command
What command is given to employers in Ephesians 6 that is not specifically noted in Colossians?
Ultimate Boss
Ephesians further underlines the importance of understanding who is the ultimate authority. How will understanding that God is the ultimate authority affect the employer and employee respectively?
Work as Worship
Here’s a short video that explains how your job in the workplace is worship if you do it according to the principles and commands of these verses.
Application
Eye Pleaser
Whether you are an employee or an employer, what needs to change about the way you work so that you work consistently for the Lord not just when someone is watching you?
Willing?
Are you willing to lose your job to maintain your integrity and obey God rather than men? How can you commit that to God today?
Worship
If you are a Christian, how will you do your work as worship today?
Wrapup
Closing
We hope this study has helped you understand God’s blueprint for the Christian in the workplace.
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