Our Life For God: For His Glory Or Ours? Series

OUR LIFE FOR GOD: FOR HIS GLORY OR OURS?

Colossians 3:23-25

INTRODUCTION:

A. Folks, you are here this morning to bring glory to God!

1. That is what life is all about – God’s Glory!

2. I hope you do, but if not don’t worry, hopefully by the end of our time together you will.

B. As we begin this message this morning I must point out that our passage falls in between two verses dealing with slaves and masters

1. Col. 3:22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:

2. Col. 4:1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

3. Paul was dealing with a part of society that had grievous atrocities (to say nothing about the act of slavery itself.)

a. It is estimated by historians that anywhere from 1/3 to 1/2 of the population in ancient Rome were slaves that would amount to about 40-60 million people

b. That is a significant portion of society that needed to hear about how to honor God in their present position in society

4. So Paul addresses the issue

C. Praise God, today in the United States of American we do not have slaves and we understand that slavery is not a part of God’s plan for society – here or anywhere.

1. So how can we grow from this portion of scripture?

2. Well, we are servants of the Lord Jesus Christ – are we not?

- Paul, Timothy, Jude, John all considered themselves servants – slaves

3. And so I believe we can make much broader application – that being to us!

4. What Paul states to slaves in the Roman empire we can apply to the servants of Jesus Christ: He is our master and we are His servants

D. It is with this idea in mind that I want us to look at Col. 3:23-25 And whatsoever ye do, do it 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. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. We will look at two things:

1. First Purpose In Life

2. Secondly Promises Of Life

Lets bow our heads and ask God to open our hearts and minds to the message He has for us. PRAY

As servants of the Lord Jesus Christ we should have a single

I. PURPOSE IN LIFE - Col. 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

A. Let me begin by asking a question: How do we view our life with God?

1. A Sunday Activity?

2. An extra-curricular activity: paying dues, taking what you want and skipping it as you like?

3. As a “App” for use when we want it?

4. For a fall-back: if this doesn’t work out I’ll fall back on Him?

5. It’s sad to say but these are how many Christians view their relationship to God – oh, they might not describe them in these ways, but they lives say so.

B. Living according to these ideas we miss the real purpose of life.

1. Our passage says, whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as unto the Lord…

a. Think about this. If Paul is writing to a group of people who had it really tough (slaves), how much more should he expect it from us?

b. Listen to other portions of scripture on this matter:

1) Col. 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

2) 1 Cor. 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

c. And Jesus told us the first commandment (that means in precedence) is …thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. Mark 12:30

2. When we live for God, making this our highest goal we solve a lot of other problems

a. We can stop worrying about men!

b. Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

c. Though a man be in slavery, he can still glorify God

d. What a sad testimony when free men are enslaved to sin and do not glorify God!

C. On May 10, 1940 Winston Churchill’s made his first speech to the house of commons as prime minister.