Colossians 3:23 states: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” This statement in Colossians really digs deep into the Christian’s soul; it looks at the heart of a Christian’s attitude toward everything he does in life. Christians should have the dedication to work hard, not because they want to be seen by the world, but because they love God and want to obey Him.
Working ‘as for men’ is easy. Unfortunately we are all too capable of being a hard-worker when the boss is around, but not when he leaves the room. Working for man may have an earthly reward, but will not be sufficient for a heavenly reward. In Matthew 6:1-2 Christ gives the following warning: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.”
Working ‘as for the Lord’ can be hard. Working as for God requires a much deeper attitude of love and commitment. God knows our thoughts and our motivations. God knows if one truly cares for those who they help, or if one is helping someone to be seen by men. Remember Christ’s words in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”