Jesus changes the way we work by becoming our real Boss. In Colossians 3:22-4:1, Paul tells slaves to work sincerely and wholeheartedly, as if working for the Lord, because Christ is the one they ultimately serve. Then he tells masters to treat those under them justly and fairly, because they also answer to a Master in heaven. Whether you have a boss or you are the boss, work isn’t the same when you realize Jesus is the one you’re working for.
Setting the Scene in Colossians 3:22-4:1
This is the last part of the household section in Colossians. Paul has addressed husbands and wives, then parents and children (Colossians 3:20-21). Now he turns to the relationship between slaves and masters, and he spends more words on it than on the others.
That may be because of who was carrying the letter. Paul sent Colossians with Tychicus and Onesimus (Colossians 4:7-9). Onesimus was a slave who had run away from his master, Philemon, a member of the church in Colossae. He met Paul, became a believer, and was now going home. Paul’s short letter to Philemon asks Philemon to welcome him back as more than a slave, as a dear brother in the Lord (Philemon 16). When the Colossian church heard these verses read aloud, both men may well have been in the room.
Does the Bible Endorse Slavery?
Let’s be clear: this passage does not endorse slavery. Slavery is a grave injustice, and the gospel stands against treating any human being as property. Paul is speaking into a system that already existed and that a small, powerless church could not abolish. Slavery was everywhere in the Roman Empire. Historians estimate that a large share of the population, perhaps a third or more in some cities, was enslaved.
First-century slavery was different from the race-based chattel slavery of American history. It wasn’t based on skin color. People became slaves through war, debt, or birth. Some slaves were educated and served as teachers, doctors, or managers, and many could hope to be freed eventually. But they still had no freedom to choose their lives. They had no legal standing, couldn’t inherit property, and could be beaten or sold. Many ancient writers assumed slaves were morally incapable of choosing to do good.
Paul’s gospel planted seeds that would eventually undermine the whole system. Just a few verses earlier, he wrote this.
Colossians 3:11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
In Christ, a slave and a master are brothers. Paul encouraged slaves to gain their freedom if they could (1 Corinthians 7:21) and listed slave traders among the ungodly (1 Timothy 1:10). Christians’ record on slavery is far from spotless. It took far too long, and some Christians used the Bible to defend evil. But wherever Christ was truly exalted, these principles eventually helped lead to the abolition of slavery, as believers like William Wilberforce fought to end the slave trade. Today, the closest parallel to this passage is the relationship between employees and employers, or anyone working under someone else’s authority.
Don’t Just Coast at Work
Paul first speaks to slaves, the workers of his day.
Colossians 3:22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.
Paul uses a vivid Greek word that means “eye-service.” It describes people who work only when the boss is watching. We all know the type: the coworker who disappears for hours, takes long breaks, shops online on company time, or calls in sick when he isn’t. Paul calls followers of Jesus to something different: sincerity of heart. That means being the same person whether anyone is looking or not.
Work isn’t a curse. God gave Adam work to do in the garden before sin entered the world (Genesis 2:15). Work has dignity because God himself works. That’s true whether you’re a student whose “boss” is a teacher, a stay-at-home parent whose demanding bosses are small children, or a retiree whose work is serving others. The workplace can be hard. It may be unsafe, toxic, or full of complaining. But if Paul could call slaves to work wholeheartedly, his words certainly apply to us.
Your Real Boss Is Jesus
What motivates us to keep working well when the job is tough? Paul gives the answer.
Colossians 3:23-24 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.
“With all your heart” is literally “from the soul.” Paul says the secret to motivation is knowing who you really work for. Your company may sign your paycheck, but Jesus guarantees your final reward. Your manager may do your annual review, but Jesus does the review that counts. For Roman slaves, the promise of an “inheritance” was astonishing, since slaves couldn’t legally inherit anything. In God’s family, they were heirs.
When Jesus is your Boss, work becomes an act of worship. The composer Johann Sebastian Bach often wrote the letters “S.D.G.” on his scores, short for Soli Deo Gloria, “glory to God alone.” A spreadsheet or a ditch can be offered to God just as truly as a song. Work also becomes service to others. One study of hospital janitors found that some described their job as cleaning floors, while others described it as creating a safe place for patients to heal. Those who saw their work as service found it far more meaningful. And work becomes a chance to reflect Jesus. You may not have many opportunities to talk about your faith at work, but people notice how you work (Matthew 5:16).
Paul adds a sobering reminder.
Colossians 3:25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.
God has no favorites. This verse may be a warning to slaves not to cheat their masters, but it may also point ahead to masters who mistreat their slaves. Either way, how others treat us never justifies doing wrong ourselves. If you work for a cruel or unfair boss, you have a freedom ancient slaves didn’t have. You can look for another job, and it’s not wrong to do so. If you face harassment or abuse at work, seek help and use the protections available to you. But wherever you go, settle first who you are really working for.
Bosses Answer to a Master Too
Then Paul turns to masters.
Colossians 4:1 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
This was radical. Ancient writing about slavery mostly advised masters on how to run their slaves efficiently. Aristotle argued that a man could not truly act unjustly toward what belonged to him, including his slaves. Paul says the opposite. Masters owe their workers what is right and fair. The word for “fair” can also mean equality, a remarkable word to use about slaves. And masters are reminded that they are not at the top of the ladder. They have a Master in heaven too. Paul says something similar in Ephesians.
Ephesians 6:9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
Today, this applies to business owners, managers, supervisors, team leads, and anyone who shapes the work experience of others. Christian leaders aren’t driven only by profit or appearances. They treat people as people whom God loves, not just as resources. In nineteenth-century England, the Cadbury family, who were Quakers, built their factory at Bournville with better working conditions and housing for their workers at a time when many factories were dangerous and miserable. When Truett Cathy opened his first restaurant, he chose to close on Sundays so his employees could rest and worship, a policy Chick-fil-A still keeps. Leaders who don’t ask others to do what they won’t do, who communicate honestly, and who give credit generously reflect their Master in heaven.
What This Means for Us
Most of us spend a huge share of our waking lives at work, and surveys regularly show that many people don’t find it very satisfying. Colossians doesn’t promise that every job will be fun. It promises something better: Jesus is enough to give meaning to even the most ordinary work. Not just pastors and missionaries, but plumbers, nurses, cashiers, and accountants serve the Lord Christ.
Try choosing one attitude adjustment or one simple action this week. Maybe it’s refusing to coast, refusing to complain, or praying before you start your shift. If you lead others, maybe it’s one way to treat them more fairly. Small changes can transform your work when you remember your real Boss.
The Takeaway
How does Jesus change the way we work? He becomes our real Boss. Workers serve sincerely and wholeheartedly because they are working for the Lord, who will reward them. Bosses treat people justly and fairly because they answer to a Master in heaven. This passage doesn’t endorse slavery. It shows that Jesus gives dignity and meaning to all work.
