Most of us have had a job that felt repetitive, frustrating, or far removed from anything spiritual. Josh White’s message from Colossians 3 and Ephesians 6 presses on a better question: what if the work in front of us is one of the places we can serve Christ?
Work as Worship
Paul tells bondservants to work sincerely, not merely when someone is watching. The setting is an ancient household code, but the sermon’s application reaches every season of life: employees, employers, students, retirees, and people caring for a home. Our job title does not decide whether our ordinary work matters to God.
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”
— Colossians 3:23
That changes the way we approach a shift, a difficult assignment, or a task we have done a thousand times. Work is not only a paycheck or a way to stay out of trouble. It can be a way to use the abilities God gave us and to represent Jesus where we already are. White recalled loading UPS trucks before dawn: the boxes kept coming, the trucks kept emptying, and the routine could feel pointless. The work still had a deeper audience than the people on the clock. Josh White brings the same principle back to ordinary assignments: the task itself may be repetitive, but the motive can still honor Christ.
Sincerity When No One Watches
“Eye-service” is work performed mainly to look good when the boss is nearby. Paul calls believers to something sturdier: a sincere heart that remembers the Lord is present even when a supervisor is not. The question is not only whether we finish the task, but what our attitude and motives say about the One we serve.
“Rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man.”
— Ephesians 6:7
This passage does not excuse injustice or tell someone they must remain in a harmful job. Paul’s words address bondservants in a broken social order; they are not an endorsement of slavery. Ephesians also tells masters to stop threatening and reminds them that they too answer to a heavenly Master who shows no partiality. The point for our workplaces is that authority never makes anyone ultimate: employees and employers alike are accountable to Christ.
White also shared a failure from his own first jobs: as a teenager, he quit a fast-food job in anger over a new manager’s rule about pre-peeling cheese. The regret was not simply leaving; it was letting pride decide how he left. Work can expose our impatience, but it can also teach us to act with humility, honesty, and care for our witness.
Work Is a Gift With Eternal Weight
Scripture does not call work meaningless toil. Ecclesiastes says that enjoying the fruit of our labor is a gift from God. That does not mean every job is easy or fulfilling. It means ordinary labor can be received with gratitude and offered to God, rather than measured only by status or immediate reward.
“Take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.”
— Ecclesiastes 3:13
Believers also live from a larger identity. Paul tells the Philippians that their citizenship is in heaven. We may work for a company, serve customers, care for children, or spend our days in retirement; none of those roles replaces our deeper allegiance to Christ. Our conduct at work can show the people around us that our purpose is more than getting ahead.
“Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior.”
— Philippians 3:20
That hope is not earned by a good work ethic. Ephesians 2:8–10 says salvation is by grace, and then describes believers as created in Christ Jesus for good works. Work is not the price of God’s acceptance; it is one place a life shaped by grace can bear fruit.
So What?
Before your next shift or routine responsibility, ask: “If I am serving Christ here, what would change about how I do this?” It may mean following through when no one checks, speaking respectfully when you disagree, or choosing a humble exit instead of a proud one. And if you are not employed, the same call reaches the work and responsibilities already in your hands. Whatever you do, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Discussion Questions
- What part of your current work or daily responsibilities feels most repetitive, and how might serving Christ change your view of it?
- Where are you most tempted to practice “eye-service”—working mainly when someone is watching?
- What can an employer or supervisor do to show that authority is accountable to Christ?
- What does the story about quitting over cheese reveal about pride, and how can you respond differently when you disagree at work?
- What is one specific act of sincere service you can practice this week, whether at work, at home, or in retirement?
Scripture References
- Colossians 3:17, 22–25 — serving Christ in all we do
- Ephesians 2:8–10; 6:5–9 — grace, good works, and workplace relationships
- Ecclesiastes 3:12–13; 5:18–19 — work as a gift from God
- Galatians 6:7–10 — perseverance in doing good
- Philippians 3:17–21 — our citizenship in heaven