Colossians chapter 3. Let's read the end of this chapter
beginning in verse 22 and we're going to read down
through chapter 4 verse 1. Colossians 3 verse 22 it says, servants obey in all
things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye service
as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God, and whatsoever
you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not unto men, knowing
that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance,
for you 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. Masters give unto your servants
that which is just and equal, knowing that you also have a
master in heaven. Now, just like when we looked
at wives and husbands, which was verses 18 and 19, And just like when we looked
at children and fathers, which was verses 20 and 21, we are
going to look at servants and masters in light of the Lord
Jesus Christ and him crucified. Everything is in light of Christ
and him crucified physically speaking. In verse 22, when it
says servants, we can relate that to employees. We don't really
have servants these days. But whoever has a job, whoever
is told by a boss what to do. And in verse 22, and also in
chapter four, verse one, when he says masters, we can relate
that to employers, anyone who is in charge of a job. Anyone
who orders work to be done. He's telling the servants to
obey whatever the masters tell them to do. And he says, don't
just do it, do it cheerfully. Verse 23 says, heartily. Do it from the heart, do it willingly,
do it cheerfully from the heart. And here is the reason why. The
end of verse 24 says, for, and that means because, you serve
the Lord Christ. You serve the Lord Christ. The
attitude that we ought to have in service. One to another and
in service to those who are above us. That attitude should be a
happy, willing attitude for two reasons. Number one, You serve
the Lord. We serve the Lord. This commandment
to us to serve willingly. It's coming from him. He is the
one telling us this. He is every man's ultimate master
and owner and ruler. Look with me, if you would, at
Matthew chapter 23. Matthew 23, our Lord is talking
about the Pharisees of false religion and He's condemning
them here. He said in verse six, they love the uppermost rooms
at feasts and the cheap seats in the synagogues and greetings
in the markets and to be called of men, rabbi, rabbi, but be
not ye called rabbi for one is your master, even Christ. And all ye are brethren and call
no man, your father upon earth. He's not talking about an earthly
father. He's talking about a man who wears a white collar. Call
no man, your father upon the earth for one is your father,
which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters
for one is your master, even Christ, but he that is greatest
among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself
shall be abased, and he that shall humble himself shall be
exalted. So number one, he said, have
this heart of service because you are servants. That's what
we are. Every man and woman on this earth
is a servant of the master. The master, not necessarily every
man and woman on this earth is a child of God. Every soul is not one of His
elect, but every knee standing is going to bow to His Master. Every knee. So He said, have
a heart to serve. Number one, because you serve
the Lord. And number two, look back at Colossians with me. The end of verse 24, He said,
You serve the Lord Christ. You serve the Lord Christ. You
serve the Christ. What does that mean? The Christ. What does that mean? It means
the Messiah. It means the One who came down. That's what it means. It means
you serve the only mediator between God and men. It means you serve the one who
served. That's what it means. That's
what Christ means. It means you serve the one who
served. This is all the motivation that
a child of God needs for service. Your great master made himself
to be the servant. God's servant, God's servant
for his people. Look with me at Isaiah 42. Isaiah
42, the heading. At the top of my page says the
office of Christ. That's who he's speaking of.
This is God, the father speaking concerning Christ, his son. And
in verse one, he said, behold, my servant, what a glorious thing
to behold whom I uphold Mine elect. The Father said, I choose
Him. We talk about God's elect. Who
did the Father choose? Christ. He said, I choose Him. And if God the Father placed
us in Him, we are chosen in Him, but only in Him. not in ourselves. He said, I choose him. Verse
one, behold my servant whom I uphold mine elect in whom my soul delighteth. I've put my spirit upon him.
He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not
cry nor lift up nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he
not quench? He shall bring forth judgment
unto truth. Here's one of my favorite lines
in the scripture. He shall not fail, nor be discouraged. Don't you
love that? Till he hath set judgment in
the earth, and the isles shall wait for his law. The Father
said, I have given him a job to do and he's not going to fail.
He is going to accomplish this work willingly. He is going to
accomplish this work heartily for the joy set before him. And
that's exactly what he did. That's what he did. He did not
fail. He said, Father, the work that thou gavest me to do, I
finished it. I finished it. What was the work?
What work? Did the master become the servant
for what work required the master to become the servant in order
to accomplish it? Look with me at Philippians two. Philippians 2 verse 5, it says,
let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who
being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with
God, but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of
a servant and was made in the likeness of men. and being found
in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto
death, even the death of the cross. We sing a song that says,
he took our sins and our sorrows and he made them his very own.
He bore that burden to Calvary and suffered and died alone. God the Father said, behold,
my servant, the one who will accomplish the work for my people. Now go with me back to Colossians. Colossians four, verse one. It says, masters, give unto your
servants that which is just and equal knowing that you also have
a master in heaven. Christ as the substitute servant
for his people, this is what he did. He received, he took
what was just and equal concerning his people. He made himself to
be them and then he took exactly what was just and equal concerning
them. exactly what his people earned.
That's what he got. That's what he took. And what
did they earn? They earned wrath. They earned
punishment. They earned death. That's what
their works earned. And in that substitution, when
Christ made himself to be his people, and when he received
everything that was justly due to them, in turn, they received
Everything that was justly due to Him, what was owed to Him,
what did He earn? He earned the Father's love.
He earned all the reward of heaven. And He earned eternal life. Eternal
life. So for that reason, for that
reason alone, Paul said, because we served the Lord Christ, the
One who served for us, we ought to serve each other. Because
he was obedient to the master, we ought to be obedient to the
masters that he has placed over us. If we have a master over
us, an employer over us, he's the one who placed that man or
woman above us. No matter what title, what position
we hold, this is what the scripture says about all of us, all men
and women, including all of God's people. At the end of the day,
all we are is unprofitable servants. That's what it says about us.
And in Christ, we need to view ourselves to be just that. That's
all we are. Now don't turn, but listen to
these scriptures. Romans 1.1 says, Paul, a servant of Jesus
Christ. Philippians 1.1 says, Paul and
Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ. Titus 1.1 says, Paul,
a servant of God. James 1.1 says, James, a servant
of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. Second Peter 1.1 says,
Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ. And
Jude 1.1 says, Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ. We are servants. That's what we are. We are servants.
So when it comes to our job, when it comes to our place of
employment, for Christ's sake, And because of the commandment
of God to us, we need to serve. We need to serve. And the scripture
clearly tells us how. What I want to do is read some
verses that instruct us on it, and we're just going to take
them at face value. Right here in Colossians 3, verse 22 says,
servants, obey in all things your masters according to the
flesh, Not with eye service as men pleasers, meaning not just
when the boss is looking, even if nobody will ever know. Over
in Isaiah 42, it said, our Lord would not lift up His voice and
cry in the streets and draw attention to Himself. He would just do
the work He was given to do. So verse 22, it says, servants
obey in all things your masters, according to the flesh, not with
eye service as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing
God. Knowing God is watching. God
is watching. And whatsoever you do, do it
heartily as to the Lord and not unto men. When we obediently
work, Let's realize we're not just obeying a man or a woman.
Somebody's gonna tell us, I want you to do this. And when we do
it, we're not just obeying a man or a woman. This is what God
told us to do. God is the one who placed whoever
is in charge of us, in charge of us, in every capacity. God put us in the position that
we are in. And somehow it is always for
our good and for His glory. I told our brother that just
a moment ago, and he nodded. By His grace, we perform everything we do answering
to Him. Everything we do is answering to Him. Verse 23, it says, Whatsoever
you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not unto men. knowing that of the Lord you
shall receive the reward of the inheritance, for you serve the
Lord Christ, but he that doeth wrong, and that means he or she
that does not obey, shall receive for the wrong which he hath done,
and there's no respect of persons. We cannot do anything to lose
our salvation. If God chose us and Christ died
for us and the Spirit has called us, what that means is we are
kept by the power of God. But God will deal with us not
only as servants but also as children. He will chasten us
because He loves us. So the commandment and the exhortation
is servants obey, that's what he said. All right, let me show
you a few other scriptures that say this same thing. Look with
me if you would at 1 Peter 2. 1 Peter 2 verse 18. Servants be subject to your masters
with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to
the froward. For this is thankworthy if a
man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it if when
you be buffeted for your faults, you shall take it patiently.
But if when you do well and suffer for it, you take it patiently.
This is acceptable with God. He said, it doesn't matter if
your boss is good and gentle or froward and hard to get along
with. He said, either way, if you have no choice but to stay
in that job, sometimes you don't have to stay in a particular
job, but if you have no choice but to stay in that job, be subject
to them. Endure everything patiently.
You know, you're in a bad position and you say, well, how can you
do that? You know, you don't understand
how they're treating me. Why would I want to do that? Here's
why. Verse 21, it says, for even here
unto where you called, because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example that you should follow his steps, who
did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth, who when
he was reviled, reviled not again. When he suffered, he threatened
not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously,
who his own self bear our sins in his own body on the tree,
that we being dead to sins should live unto righteousness by whose
stripes you were healed. For you were a sheep going astray,
but are now returned unto the shepherd and bishop of your souls. Just patiently wait on the Lord. He'll take care of it. Just do
your job. Do whatever they tell you to
do. Work hard. and the Lord will take care of
it. Let's teach our children that. We live in a very rebellious
day. Everybody else is wrong and I'm
right. Let's teach our children what our Lord has commanded.
Just do your job, work hard, wait on the Lord, He'll take
care of it. And He will. All right, look
with me at Titus 2. Titus chapter 2, verse 9 says, exhort servants
to be obedient unto their masters and to please them well in all
things, not answering again. Don't talk back. That's what
he's saying. That starts in the home, and
it transfers to the job, and it ends up before God. And let's
teach our children that. Let's teach our children now,
and maybe that will sink in as adults. Don't be insubordinate. Don't be insubordinate. You know,
men, I don't think that's how it ought to be done. Let's not
do that. Don't undermine the boss. Don't
talk behind his back. Verse 10 says, not purloining,
but showing all good fidelity that they may adorn the doctrine
of God, our savior in all things. Just say, I'd be like to do that. Well, not my will, but dine be
done. It adorns the doctrine of God
our Savior in all things. This is a precious story, a true
story. There's a very dear man who I
love very much. He attends in another assembly,
another congregation. He's in another state. But his
boss called his pastor on the phone one time and asked him,
what do you all preach down there? He said, I want to know what
type of instruction makes an employee like this so impressed
with this man. Through his service, through
his conduct as an employee, he adorned the doctrine of God our
Savior. That's a true example, true inspiration. Look with me if you would at
1 Timothy chapter 6. 1 Timothy 6 verse 1, it says, let
as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters
worthy of all honor that the name of God and His doctrine
be not blasphemed." What we do out there affects the name and
the honor and the reputation of what is taking place in here.
It just does. Our flesh can easily bring reproach
on His name and reproach on His gospel and reproach on His witness
here. So verse one says, let as many
servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy
of all honor, that the name of God and His doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing
masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren.
but rather do them service because they are faithful and beloved,
partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. Employees, be this way towards
your employers, especially those who are believing employers. Don't despise them. They are
brethren. They're brethren. Be faithful
to them, work hard for them. One more, all right? Ephesians
6. Ephesians 6 verse 5. Servants be obedient to them
that are your masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling
in singleness of your heart as unto Christ. Not with eye service
as men pleasers but as the servants of Christ doing the will of God
from the heart. Whatever it is that we find ourselves
doing, do it as unto the Lord. I would love to learn this. Whatever it is you're doing,
do it unto the Lord. Do it out of thanks and gratitude
to Him. Do it as though you are answering
to Him, as we are. And then verse nine right here
says, Ye masters do the same things unto them, forbearing
threatening, knowing that your master also is in heaven, neither
is their respective persons with him. Masters don't be taskmasters. If you're ever put in a position
of authority, be good and kind to those who are under you. Be
generous toward them. Pay them well. They have needs
just like everybody else does. Men support families. One commentator said, don't ask
anything of your employees that you would not be willing to do
yourself. Do everything to your employees
as Christ has done it to you. That's the key. as he has done
it to us. Our Lord said, give, and it'll
be given unto you. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. So, masters, give unto your servants
that which is just and equal, knowing that you also have a
master in heaven. Let everything, in both ways,
be for Christ's sake. Always, always for Christ's sake.
All right, you're dismissed.