March through Colossians - 3:23-4:1

In this section Paul continues to describe and urge upon the Colossians what their new life in Christ should look like. We stopped at 3:22 yesterday, but 3:22-4:1 really go together as Paul addresses slaves and masters.

The Bible is characterized by both unity and diversity. It is diverse, for example, in the sense that it was written by lots of different people to lots of different people in lots of different places and situations. It is also unified (which is really the dominant characteristic, though we should not lose sight of its diversity), for example, in the sense that behind all the human authors stood/stands the one Divine Author, which gives the 66 books of Scripture a union and cohesion that allows us to appropriately read one part of Scripture in light of other parts of Scripture. Scripture sheds light on Scripture. In the case of this section from Colossians, it is interesting and illuminating to read the parallel section from Ephesians (Ephesians and Colossians are very similar).

"Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven." -Col. 3:22-4:1.

"Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him." -Eph. 6:5-9.

Verse 23 ("Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men") reminds me of one of Jonathan Edwards' resolutions, which I often recall and (only sometimes) put into practice: "Resolved, to live with all my might while I do live." Whatever you are doing today, whether it's something you had planned to do or something God had planned for you to do instead, do it with all your might, for the Lord.

Read the whole book tomorrow.