Ordinary Work

READ

There's something transformative that happens when we shift our perspective on ordinary work. Consider how differently we approach tasks when we understand their deeper purpose. The teacher who sees education as shaping future leaders, the accountant who views accurate bookkeeping as serving justice, the parent who recognizes that daily care is forming a human soul—these people have discovered that every role can become an opportunity for meaningful engagement. This shift in perspective reveals the secret that Paul unveils in today’s passage.

Let’s take a moment to read Colossians 3:23-24:

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."

REFLECT

Participation in God's kingdom isn't limited to what we traditionally call "ministry" or "spiritual activities." Every task, every interaction, every moment of our ordinary lives can become an opportunity to serve Christ with wholehearted engagement.

The word "whatever" in Paul's instruction is beautifully comprehensive. It includes the glamorous and the mundane, the public and the private, the exciting and the tedious. Whether you're changing diapers, analyzing spreadsheets, teaching students, or fixing cars, you have the opportunity to practice participation in God's work.

But notice Paul's qualifier: "with all your heart." This isn't about going through the motions or simply completing tasks. It's about bringing our full selves—heart, mind, and body—to whatever we're doing. It's the difference between reluctant compliance and wholehearted engagement.

When we work "as working for the Lord," something transformative happens to our motivation. Tasks that once felt meaningless suddenly have purpose. Difficult people become opportunities to extend grace. Challenging circumstances become chances to demonstrate faithfulness. Our participation takes on eternal significance because we're serving the eternal God.

This perspective transforms how we understand our daily lives. That presentation at work? It's an opportunity to serve Christ through excellence and integrity. The grocery shopping, carpool driving, and bill paying? These become acts of service to Christ as we care for our families and communities. Even mundane conversations become chances to participate in God's love by really listening and responding with care.

The key is learning to see Christ in the people we serve. When Paul says "it is the Lord Christ you are serving," he's not speaking metaphorically. In Matthew 25, Jesus taught that when we serve others—especially the vulnerable—we're literally serving him. The Christ we encounter in Sunday worship is the same Christ we serve through Monday's responsibilities.

This doesn't mean we paste a smile on our faces and pretend every task is enjoyable. Some work is genuinely difficult, some people are genuinely challenging, and some seasons are genuinely exhausting. But even in these circumstances, we can choose to participate with purpose rather than merely endure.

Practicing participation also means paying attention to how we engage. Are we present to what we're doing, or are we mentally somewhere else? Are we bringing our best effort, or are we cutting corners? Are we treating people with dignity, or are we simply using them to accomplish our goals?

The promise Paul offers is significant: "you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward." This isn't primarily about earning points for future benefits. It's about discovering that wholehearted participation in God's work—even through ordinary tasks—brings rewards that begin now. Purpose replaces meaninglessness. Community develops through service. Character is formed through faithful engagement.

This inheritance mindset also frees us from needing human recognition or approval. When we're primarily serving Christ through our work, we don't need our boss, spouse, or children to fully appreciate our efforts. We can participate wholeheartedly even when our service goes unnoticed, because we know our true audience.

Perhaps the most beautiful aspect of practicing participation is that it's available to everyone, in every circumstance. You don't need a special calling, advanced training, or perfect conditions. You simply need willingness to engage your current responsibilities with purpose, presence, and love.

RESPOND

Take a moment to process what God might be leading you to do in light of what you read.

• How might your approach to work, household tasks, or daily responsibilities change if you truly believed you were serving Christ through them?

• What specific practices could help you bring your whole heart to the ordinary tasks of your life?

• In what areas are you simply going through the motions rather than participating with purpose and presence?

REST

Take a moment to rest in God’s presence and consider one thing you can take away from your time reading, then close your devotional experience by praying:

Lord Christ, help me see that every task and interaction is an opportunity to serve you. Transform my understanding of ordinary work into extraordinary participation in your kingdom. Give me grace to engage wholeheartedly even when the work is difficult or unappreciated. Help me practice your presence in the mundane moments and find purpose in every act of service. Thank you for the inheritance that comes through faithful participation in your work. Amen.