Work as Unto the Lord
Opening Scripture:
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”
— Colossians 3:23 (ESV)
Good morning,
Some people think the Bible is just about spiritual matters—heaven, sin, salvation. And yes, it is about those things. But Scripture also speaks clearly about how we live our everyday lives—and that includes our work.
Whether you build houses, teach children, run a business, raise kids, or sweep floors—your work matters to God.
Work is not a curse. It’s a calling. And today, we’ll see how hard work done in faith brings glory to God and meaning to life.
God Created Us to Work
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.”
— Genesis 2:15 (ESV)
Before sin entered the world, before the fall, there was work. God gave Adam purpose—to work the garden. That tells us something: work is not punishment—it’s part of God’s design.
You were made to create, build, contribute, and grow.
Work reflects the image of a working God—who built the universe in six days and called it good.
Laziness Is Not of God
“The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.”
— Proverbs 13:4 (ESV)
God honors hard work, and He warns against laziness.
We live in a culture that celebrates shortcuts and instant gratification—but the Bible calls us to diligence, discipline, and consistency.
This doesn’t mean working ourselves into exhaustion or neglecting rest—but it means we take our responsibilities seriously.
God doesn’t bless idleness—He blesses faithfulness.
Your Work Is Your Witness
“Aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands… so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:11–12 (ESV)
People are watching how you live—and how you work.
A Christian who cuts corners, shows up late, or gives half effort is sending the wrong message about the God they serve.
But when you work with integrity, with excellence, with joy—you reflect Christ. You become a testimony not just with your words, but with your work ethic.
Rest Is a Holy Rhythm
“Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest.”
— Exodus 34:21 (ESV)
Hard work doesn’t mean constant work. Even God rested on the seventh day.
Rest is not laziness—it’s worship. It reminds us that we are not machines. It teaches us to trust God with our time. It creates space for relationships and refreshment.
A well-rested Christian works better and lives stronger.
Work Done for God Brings Eternal Reward
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV)
You may feel like your work is unnoticed. Maybe you’re a parent changing diapers, a student buried in books, a mechanic under a car hood. But when you do your work for God, nothing is wasted.
God sees what others don’t.
God honors the faithful.
God rewards the diligent.
Even the smallest task—done with a heart for Christ—is holy.
Come to the One Who Did the Greatest Work
“It is finished.”
— John 19:30 (ESV)
The most important work ever done was not in a factory, a farm, or an office. It was on a cross.
Jesus Christ did the work we could never do. He bore our sin, paid our debt, and finished the job of salvation. He worked, He died, and He rose again—so we could rest in His grace.
And now, we don’t work for salvation—we work from salvation. We labor not to earn God’s love, but to live out the love He’s already given.
If you haven’t received that gift, today is the day to stop striving and start believing.
Closing Scripture:
“Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!”
— Psalm 90:17 (ESV)
Prayer
Let us pray:
Father in Heaven,
Thank You for giving us purpose through our work. You created us not for idleness, but for impact. We confess that at times we’ve grumbled, taken shortcuts, or looked for ways out instead of pressing in.
Today, we ask for Your strength to work hard—not for the praise of people, but for the glory of Your name.
Help us to honor You with our time, our talent, and our effort.
Let our work be a light to those around us.
Give us diligence when we’re weary, integrity when no one is watching, and rest when we need renewal.
And Lord, remind us that the most important work is already done—by Jesus at the cross.
We receive that gift again today.
And from that grace, we will live, and love, and labor—faithfully and joyfully.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen.