A note from the Desk of the Pastor:

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”

Colossians 3:23

Good Morning Dearly Beloved,

The Apostle Paul provides the external blueprint in verse 22—calling for obedience that moves beyond mere “eye-service” to please men. The Apostle then continues in verse 23, revealing the internal engine that enables such integrity. Paul shifts the focus from the identity of the earthly master to that of the heavenly one, reminding us that the quality of our labor is a direct outpouring of our “singleness of heart” and our fear of God. By rooting our daily tasks in this divine relationship, we transform the duty of the servant into the devotion of the saint, ensuring that “whatsoever” we do is anchored in a higher calling.

The Apostle opens our study verse with the phrase, “whatsoever ye do.” The term used is intentionally broad because it applies to the lives of every disciple. Believers need to understand that, with God, there is no hierarchy of work. God sanctifies the work, whether that is washing dishes, chopping wood, writing a report, drawing up a contract, preparing a sermon, or any other task, because of the intent behind the work, not the work itself. The foundation for understanding the Apostle’s point in this lesson is knowing that Jesus’ command was to love God and love your neighbor. That is the instruction of the New Testament because a child of God could accomplish it, no matter their circumstances. The Apostle’s “whatsoever ye do” statement builds upon that idea. No matter what the work is, you can do it with a love for God. 

The word “heartily” in this verse has at times been interpreted as cheerfully. However, the word “heartily” in this context carries a heavier weight. The word translated as “heartily” can also be translated as “from the soul.” The Apostle was telling Jesus’ disciples to bring their whole selves to their daily work. That means applying your integrity, your focus, and your passion to the task at hand. The instruction to work “heartily” does not imply the disciple must enjoy every day of work. Rather, the disciple should understand that their work should seek to please God rather than man, and if that is the case, the level of effort will reflect the target audience. 

In the first-century Roman world, the idea that a bondservant could declare “whose they are” was both radical and socially subversive. Legally, an enslaved person’s identity, labor, and very existence belonged entirely to their earthly master. By commanding them to work “as to the Lord,” Paul effectively redefined their ownership—reminding them that, despite their earthly chains, their souls belonged to a higher King. This historical reality elevates our study verse from a mere productivity tip into a profound declaration of spiritual independence. When we choose to work “heartily, as to the Lord,” we join those first-century believers in proclaiming that no human authority dictates our worth, no task is too small to be sacred, and every square inch of our day is a direct offering to the Savior who has redeemed us.

Colossians 3:23 carries the context of the Apostle’s time. He wrote to men and women who lived in the bondage of an institution we have recognized as inhuman. However, the application of the verse’s lessons is not lost just because its context has shifted. Disciples in every generation can seek to please God in both their sacred activities and their day-to-day secular lives. 

Our Prayers are with you daily,