Work for the Lord, Not People or Wealth – EGP Blog post from November 12, 2012

Colossians 3:23 ()

[23] Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

Interestingly, it literally says, “work from the soul.” I’d always taken this verse as, “Don’t let the focus of your work be to make your boss happy, but work diligently, as a representative of Christ.” While that is true and has contextual support, I think there is another meaning here also. Perhaps Paul is also saying, “Don’t let the focus of your work be to make people who depend on the paycheck happy (yourself, family, friends), but work diligently, as a representative of Christ.”

Luke 12:15 ()

[15] Then he said, “Beware! Don’t be greedy for what you don’t have. Real life is not measured by how much we own.”

Ecclesiastes 5:15–20 ()

[15] People who live only for wealth come to the end of their lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day they were born. [16] And this, too, is a very serious problem. As people come into this world, so they depart. All their hard work is for nothing. They have been working for the wind, and everything will be swept away. [17] Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud—frustrated, discouraged, and angry. [18] Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat well, drink a good glass of wine, and enjoy their work—whatever they do under the sun—for however long God lets them live. [19] And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—that is indeed a gift from God. [20] People who do this rarely look with sorrow on the past, for God has given them reasons for joy.

1 Corinthians 10:31 ()

[31] Whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, you must do all for the glory of God.