Do all things as for the Lord
It is very easy to live and do things to please people. But have you thought about God and what He wants and what His will is? Do you do all things as for the Lord? Paul tells us in Colossians 3:23 (CEB) to be watchful so that we serve God and not people. “Whatever you do, do it from the heart for the Lord and not for people.”
Such a simple verse – but with such a wonderful message! When you do everything from the heart for the Lord, you don't do it to make a good impression on other people. You are doing it for God!
When the boss walks in…
Usually, we work a little harder when the boss walks in. We do this almost without thinking and it may not seem like something big. But it actually shows a deep truth about ourselves: we are born with an instinct to care very much about what others think of us. Otherwise, we would have been working just as hard the whole time!
Paul understood human nature and knew this weakness very well. He writes about it very clearly in many of his letters. In Ephesians, he writes clearly about how we as Jesus’ disciples should serve and work:
“… not only to win their favour when their eye is on you, but as slaves [servants] of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.” Ephesians 6:6-7 (NIV).
If we are so busy with other people’s opinions and what they think of us, and worry about pleasing everyone all of the time, then we can’t hear what God wants to say to us in the situations. He has placed us where we are for a reason, with the tasks we have there. And we have to see and hear what God wants us to do.
Am I a servant of Christ in everything I do?
We are to be servants of Christ! How does a servant of Christ behave on the job? How does he think? A servant of Christ is always happy in the Lord! A servant of Christ makes every effort to keep his heart pure! A servant of Christ should be righteous in all things. The goal for a disciple of Jesus is not a superficial, “nice looking” Christian life; but his goal is to be one who is “doing the will of God from the heart”. (Philippians 4:4; Proverbs 4:23; 1 Timothy 6:11.)
When we live in God’s presence the whole time and want to be well-pleasing in His eyes, it becomes much clearer for us what decisions to make. Should we look at this, read this, or say this? God follows closely along with us. What is He thinking about this? In this way, we can always refuse any thoughts that are not pleasing to God and so get a peace in life that only someone who lives for God can know.
I can do something for Jesus!
“Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me.” Matthew 25:40 (CEV).
We are to be a blessing on earth, a blessing for Jesus’ sake. By doing something for someone else, we have the opportunity to do something for Jesus. Maybe we can give a smile, wash the dishes for someone, or give money to someone who we know needs it. Whatever it is, we can think about it like this: I am doing it for Jesus.
When we look at everything like this, we no longer need to be thanked or praised. We have already received what we need from Jesus – He gave His life for us and has given us the possibility to become like Him! Now it is our turn to give something back!
We want to be a blessing, and we get grace to be a blessing. We do this because this is what Jesus wants us to do, and we do it with joy. Then we are true servants of Christ who live to please God. When we let God, not people, lead us and we do what He says, we can be a good example that draws those around us to the same life. We become a light on earth.
A life before God’s eyes
Life becomes much easier when we do everything as for the Lord because we love Him. When we practise this, we become less and less dependent on people watching us. God Himself will fill us with power and a desire to do all the good for His sake, and He blesses what we do. What more could we wish for?
Let us take Paul’s advice to heart and always do all things as for the Lord, no matter what it is we are doing!