Serving with your whole Heart: Day 1....

Col. 3:22-24 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favour, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. [23] Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, [24] since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

I think when Paul first wrote these words it was to encourage early believers to be good witnesses for Jesus. His culture was highly stratified between free people and slaves and the new faith did not want to attract pressure from the government by attempting to stir up social discord. But it may also have been possible that in some situations Christian slaves actually worked for christian masters.... in this situation then Paul would have expected the master not to abuse the slave but to treat him as a brother, so not overturning social convention by revolution but by subversion....

Anyway, we need to work hard in our situations. At work it shows that those who follow Jesus are not lazy and can be trusted. it brings credit to Jesus if we are seen as honest and diligent in the workplace. But also in our ministry. We have to go after serving God 100% - we can't hold anything back. That's why we have to find a place where our passions and gifts fit. because then we will be energised to serve, not drained by it. Then we will be able to work whole heatedly for our heavenly father....