Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord.
Paul reframes ordinary work as something done for Christ.
The episode in a glance.
- 01Originally written to slaves — and applicable to all work.
- 02'Heartily' — with your whole self.
- 03'As for the Lord, not for men' — the audience changes everything.
- 04Ordinary work becomes worship.
Read along.
Colossians 3:23 — 'Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.' Paul originally wrote this to slaves in the Roman world, which makes it striking — and applicable to anyone whose work feels unseen or undervalued.
'Whatever you do.' Not just church work, not just impressive work. Whatever. Stocking shelves, raising kids, answering emails.
'Work heartily.' With your whole self. Not just enough to get by. Not phoning it in. The full investment of your effort.
'As for the Lord, not for men.' This is the line that changes everything. The audience for your work is Christ, not your boss, not your customers, not your in-laws. Even when no one human sees, he does.
Reframed that way, the most ordinary tasks become a kind of worship. The mop, the spreadsheet, the diaper change — all of it offered up.