Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, Colossians 3:23 

Colossians 3: 22-25; 4:1; Ephesians 6:5-9

Recurrent Thought

For all Christ-devoted followers, work, which is essential for human existence, is now elevated as a service unto the Lord. Both employees and employers must do it as unto the Lord.

Human life, in a limited sense, is sustained by the consumption of products and of services. When we reduce to the basic components the provision of these products and services, we have on one side, the people who own the process of provisions of products and services, whom we call by various names such as employers, owners, etc. On the other hand, we have people who work in those enterprises (and homes), where products and services are offered. These we call workers.

The core link of the relationship between workers and employers is work. This is the activity the workers perform and of which the employer compensates. Work may include the creation or the provision of products and services to others, including to the employers. It is essential to note that God created Human beings to work and enjoy the products and services of the Earth (Gen. 2: 15). However, when our federal parents sinned, the quality and values of work were tainted with the pain of sin (Gen. 3: 17-29)

In the text, Paul, handles the relationships between workers and owners, albeit with a culture different from ours. We should note that the words that used in this text are a representation of the context and times of their times and culture. The words bondservants and masters were the backbone of economies driven by slaves. Slavery was part of the fabric of their culture. Slaves, workers who were owned, purchased, and exchanged as property and had no rights of their own as we know today, were the core of provision of work. A noble man’s house was usually full of slaves that rendered various services to the members of the household. We should state that environments and times, differed in the way slaves were handled.

It has been a puzzle, why Paul never wrote against the culture and vice of slavery. However, what Paul wrote was still revolutionary at the time. Paul uses a new way of life in Christ to demand better relationships between slaves and masters. In those days, both the Greeks and the Romans regarded a slave as a person without rights, however, with this New Testament lifestyle, it demands a a reciprocity of duties and of penalties to slaves and masters

Centuries later, Christian leaders of all kinds, worked hard to break the system of slavery in Europe, in the Americas and in many parts of the World. However, there are many countries where it is practiced illegally.

As we handle this text, we now apply it to the relationship between workers and employers or leaders that represents of the owners of the enterprises (Col. 3: 22-23). We must hasten to state that the relationship between workers and employers, which has indeed evolved over many civilizations, is the outgrowth from the relationships of slaves and masters in larger households (families) and these have become the building block of societies and the grounding of every national economy.

As a recap, workers (employees) exist to create and facilitate a transfer of products and services. There is always a relationship between seekers and providers. Employers are the ones that manage and compensate workers as they do their essential work.

This text does spell out the benefits of each of these classes of people but on the values that holds the systems in health tension. Once again, as in the previous two relationships, Wives and Husbands, Children and Parents, Paul picks up specific, first and foremost duties the persons in that set of relationship provide to each other. They are set as commands.

Command # 5:

The Service of Workers to their Employers is Excellent, Sincere and Productive labor

• That the duty of the servants (workers) is to obey his master in all things relating to his state of servitude.—“Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh” (Col 3:22). 
• We must state clearly that were all things are fine, and the standards of employment properly agreed, there is nothing degrading in offering service employed for. 
• Paul elevates the work as a service that demands obedience in the issues contracted for; and a good master only demands that within the flesh (contract)
• Our values, as Christ-devoted followers, are revealed through our work.
• Every good work must have the values of sincerity. The word should be free from duplicity. “Not with eye-service as men-pleasers; but in singleness of heart” (Col. 3:22).
• Every good worker has undivided heart, doing the best at all times for the master.
• Every good work is to be done in the fear of God. 
• The Philosophy of great work is that it is discharged as a duty to God. In every duty God is to be recognized. “And whatsoever ye do, do it as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Col 3:23). 
• Every good work has a master higher than their earthly one
• Every good work is done with great effort. The text states that In every duty the best powers should be exercised. —“Do it heartily” (Col. 3:23). 
• Of course, we know that our best efforts fall immeasurably below the lofty ideal of Christian service; 
• Every Good Worker who renders faithful service receives a glorious reward. “Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance, for ye serve the Lord Christ” (Col. 3:24). 
• Despite that we may not work perfectly, it pleases the Lord to reward human beings, when they work Faithfully.  Even Satan knows that God is good payer! Satan, when referring to the devotion of Job, he intimated that man does not serve God for nought. 
• God shall reward every good and obedient Christ-devoted follower, with the glories of heaven. What an encouragement to work!
• Just as God rewards, He also judges. Every act of injustice shall be rewarded with Judgment. “But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done, and there is no respect of persons” (Col. 3:25).

Command # 6:

The Service of an Employer is to treat well Every Worker 

• Employers must deal righteously towards all their workers (servants).
• Employers must treat their workers according to the principles of justice and equity. “Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal” (Col. 4:1). 
• The position of an Employer (Master) is one of great power and authority; it is also, at the same time, one with solemn responsibility. 
• Good employers know that workers are their greatest resource, therefore, they treat them well
• Bad employers do not treat their workers fairly. However, this should be emphasized, the duty of an employer is to give to their workers that which is righteous and mutually fair. 
• A great employer treats workers as human beings, who are rational and have rights.
• A Great employer pays a fair wage following all the acceptable labor laws within the economy.
• A Good employer remembers that they too are responsible to a Higher Master. “Knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven” (Col. 4:1). 
• In this regard, both employer and worker are servants of the one great Lord and Master of all. “One is your Master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren.”  (Eph. 6:6)
• A great employer does not demand impossible tasks upon their workers. They always exercise their authority with gentleness. 
• Passionate Employers utilize their wealth, reputation, and influence in promoting the best interest of their workers and in serving the Lord Christ.
• To All Employers: whatever value you attach to the treatment of your workers,  it is equally reckoned as the same way you treat the Lord Himself.

Conclusion 

Every good and improving society has improved relationships between workers and employers