An Occupation Worth Completing
Text: Colossians 3: 17-25
Intro: There are two kinds of people:
those who do the work and those who take the credit
if we would stay in the first group, then there is a lot less
competition there.
There are three classes of people:
Those who watch things happen
Those who make things happen
Those who don't know what has happened
Some Baptists have been out of work so long, they lost the
taste for it. Churches should put out a sign reading: NO
HELP WANTED. The apostle Paul is talking about our occupa-
tion and our service. We are about to get a job description from
the apostle. How much it pays, when we clock in, how much pay
Three truths brought to light about our work and service are:
I. THE MEASURE OF OUR LABOR
vs 17-23 reminds us that our labor in the Lord is measured by
the
standard of "whatsoever we do".
'
A) We are to labor completely ("whatsoever")
there is nothing exempt. Nothing too big, or too small. Nothing
too
insignificant or without value. We serve in hard time, happy times
and holy times. Vs 17 gets more specific "word or deed".
I believe
this encompasses our total existence as a child of God. It is
never
enough to just get by. He accepts nothing less than our best.
B) We are to labor consistently ("ye do")
1) a Command action - not merely suggested, hinted or implied.
this is a demand of God to us
2) a Continual action - we are to do and do and do and keep on
doing.
we can rest when we get to heaven. If we begin to rest, we will
begin
rust.
C) We are to labor Committedly (vs 23)
"and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and
not unto men"
the word "heartily" means "out of the soul".
Pictures the athlete
pouring every ounce of energy and commitment into an event.
II. THE MANIFESTING OF OUR LABOR
This is where the chickens come home to roost, so to speak. Paul
brings
the reality of our labor to God to our home life and work life.
Wives to
husbands, children to parents, slaves to masters.
A) Manifested in our Homes
Paul outlines two principals:
1) A Blessed partnership (vs 18-19 "wives, submit yourselves
unto
your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your
wives,
be not bitter against them". Considering the Jewish society,
this
was uncharted territory for Paul. In the Jewish society, the husband
had all legal rights, the wife had none. She was considered to
be the
possession of her husband. Paul is introducing a partnership!!!
2) A Beautiful Relationship (vs 20-21) word "obey" means
"to hearken
, or answer the door". It implies the meanig of one who responds
to
a knock on the door, and listens to the message delivered.
B) Manifested in our Work (vs 22)
III. THE MOTIVATION OF OUR LABOR
Paul begins to move our attention to our spiritual payday. We
will have
a twofold reward:
A) An Earthly Payday
vs 24 "knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward
of the in-
heritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ". Our present reward
is sal-
vation and blessings, This should be enough motivation.
B) An Eternal Payday
the word "inheritance" means "down payment".
It is that "earnest
money paid to us now to insure us of the final payment in the
future.
the word "reward" means "to be paid back"
what we do and have done for God will be rewarded
what we failed to do for God will be regarded
if we do nothing for God, it will be revealed