• What if your job is not just a responsibility… but a calling?
• In Colossians chapter 3, Paul begins to completely reframe how we see work. He’s speaking into a broken system… a difficult environment… and instead of telling people to escape it… He teaches them how to honor God in the middle of it.
• Today, we’re going to talk about what it looks like to live out a higher calling… not in church… not at home… but in your workplace.

Colossians 3:22-4:1 (ESV)

22 Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

1 Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

If Christ rules your heart… He must reshape your workplace.

• In the Greco-Roman world, slavery was widespread and often harsh. But Paul doesn’t endorse it—he undermines it with the gospel. Because in Christ, both slave and master stand equal before God.
• God does not condone slavery.
• Paul is giving teachings that would help sow a seed for the emancipation of slaves and the end of its institution.

Principles For Living Our Higher Calling In The Workplace:

#1) PURE MOTIVES

• Before God ever deals with your performance… He deals with your heart.

Colossians 3:22 (ESV)

Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

Sincerity = purity of motive

Ephesians 6:5–6 (ESV)

5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

Fear of the Lord = Tremble at His Presence & Tremble at His Word.

Things that people do if they fear the Lord:

• Immediate Obedience to God
• Total Submission to the Lordship of Jesus
• Keeps away from evil by resisting temptation
• Daily Confession of sins
• Lifestyle of worship

• Are you obedient at your workplace with a sincere heart… understanding that God sees everything you do and why you do it?

If Christ rules your heart… it won’t just purify your motives— it will elevate your effort.

#2) WHOLEHEARTED WORK

Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV)

23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Heartily = psyche = inner self; mind, thoughts, feelings.

• With what spirit do you serve in the workplace? With what mindset? With what attitude?

Luke 6:31 (ESV)

And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

1 Corinthians 10:24 (ESV)

Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV)

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

There are three motivations to serve wholeheartedly:

1) Reward (v.24 “… you will receive the inheritance as your reward.”)

2) Sovereignty of Jesus (v. 24… “You are serving the Lord Christ.”)

Psalm 115:3 (ESV)

Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.

Proverbs 19:21 (ESV)

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

3) Consequences (v.25)

#3) VISIBLE INTEGRITY

Colossians 3:25 (ESV)

For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

• Are you walking in integrity?

Integrity breaks down in three main areas:

A) Laziness

Romans 12:11 (ESV)

Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

Proverbs 10:4 (ESV)

A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

2 Thessalonians 3:10–12 (ESV)

For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

B) Untrustworthiness

• Do your co-workers/boss trust you?

trustworthy = able to be relied on as honest, truthful, or reliable.

Trustworthiness:

1. When others feel you understand them
2. When others know you are for them also
3. When we display the character of God
4. When we are competent in what we do
5. When you have a good track record

1 Corinthians 4:2 (ESV)

Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

Luke 16:10–12 (ESV)

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?

C) Sinful Actions

Titus 2:9-10 (ESV)

Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

Your workplace is not a distraction from your faith—it’s a display of it.

• If you lived out your Higher Calling at the workplace, then you would acknowledge His Presence is with you at work.

#4) CHRISTLIKE LEADERSHIP

Colossians 4:1 (ESV)

Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Justly = righteous; correct, proper; just.

Fairly = equality.

• How do you treat your employees? Are you just and fair? Do you realize you also have a Boss to answer to?

Philemon 2:3–4 (ESV)

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

• How are you stewarding your authority?

Ephesians 6:8-9 (NLT)

8 Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.

9 Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Don’t threaten them; remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites.

If Christ has authority over your heart, your habits will follow.

CONCLUSION

• Living our higher calling means letting Christ reshape our priorities, purify our lives, transform our character, and rule our hearts.
• Paul says… “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men…”
• That means workdays matters… Your speech matters… Your decisions matter… Your character matters.
• If Jesus is Lord of your heart, He will be visible in your work-life.
• That means tomorrow morning… when you walk into your workplace… you’re not just showing up to a job— you’re stepping into an assignment.

If Christ rules your heart… He must reshape your workplace.