Valentine's Day Story of Heart (Part 2 of 3)

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving.  Colossians 3:23-24

All Heart!

In a three-part blog series, we highlight a verse in Colossians 3 that is all about character.  It highlights three keys, all found in verse 23, that can help you grow in your equity, allowing you to increase in value in the workplace, class, your effectiveness in personal ministry, or your current role in life.  As you consider your dreams, put a plan into action, and launch into your future, we strongly recommend for you to hold onto these principles as they can help you.

PART TWO

“…work at it with all of your heart…”

Our Colossians passage is a significant and inspiring call from Paul for you today.  As Jesus lived, we need to be all in, working at ‘whatever we do with all our hearts.'  If you are in the workforce, give all your heart.  This energy is not dependent on how much you enjoy your job or how much credit you receive about the job you do.  It is a consuming character trait that shows itself in your efforts.  It is about your integrity and discipline. It takes having a passion for the activity and a focus on doing it well.  And sometimes, that full-hearted type of effort takes earnest prayer.

Consider that the enemy wants you to be halfhearted.  He wants you to put conditions on your giving and your hard work so that you hold back until it encourages you or brings you reward. Your enemy wants you to doubt, be pessimistic, and brush this thought off.  Fight back and take Paul's words to heart.  You CAN work with all your heart, whether at the job, in class, or in whatever you do. 

You know whether you are giving “all your heart” or not.  So to be more obedient to God, consider areas where you can further take these words to heart and put them into action.  If you are in school, how would your study habits change if you were “all in”?  If at work, how would your demeanor change? Or what would people notice in you differently if you grew in being “all in.”  And how would your personal ministry be different if you gave “all your heart” to be the light in a dark world? 

It is especially difficult not to expect a reward for “working at something with all of your heart.” A pay raise, promotion, an “A” on the exam, or a pat on the back. But Paul’s writes of a different motive in his reasoning. It is a spiritual objective, not a short-term monetary aim. As he is writing to Christians, he calls them, and us, to be confident in giving our whole heart out of the joys of receiving the long-term reward that is still to come. A prize that isn't offered by the boss or the professor today, but only from God in days ahead.

Be further inspired by God’s word:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.  Mark 12:30

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:5-6

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  Jeremiah 29:13

The Lord commands you this day to follow these decrees and laws; carefully observe them with all your heart and with all your soul.  Deuteronomy 26:16

“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”  Joel 2:12

“Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied.  “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.”  I Samuel 12:20

TO BE CONTINUED…