Heartily As To The Lord
The epistle to the Colossians gives a simple exhortation that is all-encompassing in its application and boundless in its return benefit.
And whatsoever ye do, do heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the lord Christ. COLOSSIANS 3:23-24
Whatsoever means whatsoever. That covers the full expanse of the subject matter, doesn’t it? What is that matter? Whatsoever you do. Simply, everything and anything you do. Then it says, “do it heartily”. Even though the word “do” is repeated here, in the text there are two different verbs. The first means “to do” or “to make”. The second, “to work”. Work heartily.
Work heartily as to the Lord (God) and not unto men. Perhaps your work is a task you’ve been given in pursuing a paycheck. Or maybe it’s a daily chore done over and over out of necessity. There may be people counting on you to get the things done, but whatever the work, work heartily as to the Lord, not to the people.
The word “heartily” is noteworthy in several ways. First of all, this is the only place in all the King James Version where this word is found. Secondly, it is not one word in the text but two! Two words forming a prepositional phrase. The first is the Greek word ek which means “from”, “out from” or “out of”. The second word you might think would be “heart”. But no. The Greek word is the noun psuchē: “soul”.
The noun psuchē is derived from the verb psuchō which means “to breathe”. Every living creature must breathe (psuchō) in order to have soul (psuchē) life. The soul life is the natural life that makes you you!
The translation of the prepositional phrase ek psuchē into the one word “heartily” is somewhat misleading. It only captures a portion of that which is being stated. More than “heartily”, it says “out from the soul”. Out from everything that makes you you. From everything thing that you are. Out from all of that, do the work. And work as to the Lord.
Jesus Christ taught this same great truth (‘out from the soul’) with added depth and in the context of loving the Lord our God. Note here that the word ‘with’, in the text, is the preposition ek, “out from”, and is repeated four times.
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with [ek =out from] all thy heart, and with [ek =out from] all thy soul [psuchē], and with [ek =out from] all thy mind, and with[ek =out from] all thy strength: this is the first commandment. MARK 12:30
Love God out-from all your heart, and out-from all your soul, and out-from all your mind and out-from all your strength. This is God’s commandment number one and therefore should be man’s most essential, fundamental focus of life. When this is your primary motivating principle, then certainly all of your work will be “as to the Lord and not unto men”.
But wait. There’s more! The next word is what? The next word is “knowing”. What are we knowing? That of the Lord we “shall receive the reward”. Yes! There is a reward promised by God! And His payment is much greater than the amount on your paycheck. He is able to do “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think”. No boss will match that.
God is a rewarder. Hebrews 11:6 says, “He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” In God’s remarkable way (that no man can truly fathom) the good works of each and every man are being kept and “shall be made manifest” in the coming Day of The Lord. The works worthy of reward, God will reward!
Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every [each] man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. I CORINTHIANS 3:8
Every [each] man's work shall be made manifest: for the day [the Day of The Lord] shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every [each] man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss [of a reward]: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. I CORINTHIANS 3:13-15
This tremendous truth regarding God’s promise to reward each man’s (i.e. each one’s) good works is almost universally overlooked or misunderstood. I remember being taught in the second grade of our church’s school that ‘God is keeping count of my sins’ for the purpose of retribution (punishment) in the future. That teaching is not only untrue, it is completely opposite from the truth that God declares in His Word. God has made known His promise of a reward repeatedly throughout the Scriptures.
I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every [each] man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. JEREMIAH 17:10
For the son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every [each] man according to his works. MATTHEW 16:27
Moses knew God’s promise to reward the good works of each man. He resolutely changed the course of his life in accordance with the hope of that promise. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him Who is invisible. HEBREWS 11:24, 26-27
If the work you do is just for the paycheck or something done only out of necessity, then you, too, are exhorted to change the course of your life, your soul, in whatever you do.
And whatsoever ye do, do [work] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. COLOSSIANS 3:23
God wants you to know—in fact, to know that you know—“that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward”. The Lord God offers a much greater reward than any earthly boss. His reward is eternal. And He is the God Who enables you, strengthens you, has forgiven you, made you just and holy and complete in Christ!
God has also made you His son (or daughter), and since you’re a son, you are also an heir of the inheritance, as it is written: “and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” (Romans 8:17) The inheritance is a gift of God by grace and not works. The reward from God is earned by works and not given freely by grace. There is an inheritance and there is a reward. You can learn more in my teaching, ‘The Inheritance and The Reward’ (WT#363).
Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the lord Christ. COLOSSIANS 3:24
