"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."
— Colossenses 3:23-24
Monday is that day when reality knocks on the door. Tasks pile up, deadlines press, and it's easy to fall into the trap of working only to please your boss, gain recognition, or achieve that promotion you so desire. But what Paul reveals to us is something profoundly transformative: when you work with excellence, you are not really working for that distant manager or that corporate goal — you are working for Jesus.
In the context of Colossians, Paul was writing to a community that included slaves. People who, by law, were the property of others. And yet, he challenges them to do their work "with all their heart," as if serving Christ directly. This is not a message to enslave you to work, but to free you from a far worse slavery: the slavery of human approval. When you work to earn people's applause, you will never have peace. Something will always be missing. Someone will always find it insufficient. But when you work for the Lord, there is a security that transcends performance evaluations and criticism.
Excellence ceases to be a frantic race and becomes an act of worship. Each report you write carefully, each call you make with genuine concern, each project you execute with integrity — all of this transforms into an offering. You are not merely fulfilling a duty; you are participating in God's kingdom. And here is the most beautiful part: Paul reminds us that we will receive "an inheritance from the Lord as a reward." This means your faithfulness does not go unnoticed. God sees. God appreciates. And He rewards not with temporary bonuses, but with something eternal.
This Monday, I invite you to begin differently. Before tackling your to-do list, pause. Pray. Recognize that you are serving Jesus through your work. This changes everything — your attitude, your energy, your sense of purpose. You are not a slave to the system; you are a servant of the risen Christ. And that is true freedom.
May your week be marked not by the stress of performance, but by the joy of serving with purpose. May God give you strength for each task and wisdom to prioritize what truly matters. Your work life matters. Your effort is seen. And you are making more of a difference than you imagine.