“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.”— Colossians 3:23–24
Introduction
Excellence is not a personality trait, nor is it reserved for the gifted, the educated, or the privileged. In the Kingdom of God, excellence is a calling. It is a divine expectation placed upon every believer, regardless of profession, position, or status. Scripture makes it clear that our work is never neutral. It either honors God or dishonors Him.
In an age where mediocrity is often excused and shortcuts are normalized, the Word of God confronts us with a higher standard. Our daily labour, whether public or private, visible or hidden, is carried out before the Lord Himself. This means that excellence is not about human applause, but about divine accountability.
Colossians 3:23–24 reframes work entirely. It teaches us that behind every task is a Master, behind every assignment is a purpose, and behind every faithful effort is a reward from God. When believers grasp this truth, work is transformed from routine into worship and from obligation into obedience.
Work as Worship and National Responsibility
Beloved, imagine a Ghana where every tap flows with clean water because the engineer worked with all their heart. Imagine a Ghana where our roads last for generations because the contractor refused to cut corners. Imagine a classroom where the next Kwame Nkrumah or Theodosia Okoh is being molded by a teacher who sees not just a paycheck, but a divine assignment.
In our local parlance, we often hear the phrase, “Adwuma nye sika, na ɛyɛ nipadua,” meaning work is not just money, it is the essence of the human body. Our work is our contribution to the tapestry of our nation. But Colossians 3:23 takes it even further. It tells us that our work is an act of worship.
When believers work excellently, nations are strengthened. When believers work carelessly, societies suffer. The health of a nation is often a reflection of the values of its people.
- The “Whose” Behind the “What”
In Ghana, we sometimes suffer from what may be called the Government Work Syndrome, the mindset that “Aban adwuma”, government work, can be treated with lukewarm effort because the state is big and will not feel the loss.
But the Word of God corrects this mindset. Scripture reminds us that we do not ultimately work for institutions, supervisors, or systems. We work for the Lord.
When you are cleaning the streets of Accra, you are not merely cleaning for a Zoomlion supervisor. You are sweeping for the King of Kings.
When you are processing a file at a Ministry, you are not merely serving a citizen. You are honoring the God of order and justice.
There is a Ghanaian proverb that says, “The lizard that jumped from the high Iroko tree said he would praise himself if no one else did.”
But as Christians, we do not labour for self praise or human applause. Our validation comes from the “Well done, good and faithful servant” of our Father in Heaven.
- Integrity as the Concrete of National Development
National development is not built on gold, cocoa, or oil alone. It is built on the integrity of the worker.
I recall the story of a mason in a small village near Kumasi. He was hired to build a wall for a widow. He could easily have used less cement to save money for himself, but he remembered Colossians 3. He mixed his mortar with the fear of God.
Years later, a massive flood swept through the village. Many walls collapsed, but the widow’s wall stood firm.
That wall is a metaphor for our nation. If we build Ghana with all our heart, the storms of economic hardship, corruption, and instability cannot easily topple us. We must move from a culture of shortcuts to a culture of stewardship.
- The Divine Reward
There are seasons when work feels thankless. You may feel unseen, unappreciated, or overlooked. But verse 24 gives us a powerful promise. You will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.
Promotion does not come from the East or the West. It comes from the Lord. God sees what people overlook. He records what systems ignore.
When the farmer in the Bono Region treats his cocoa farm as a gift from God, and the nurse in Tamale treats her patient as a child of God, the inheritance is not merely personal. It becomes national blessing. Excellence invites divine favour upon a people.
Your Workstyle
Just as lifestyle describes the attitudes, behaviours, and expectations shaping how you live, work style describes how you approach your work.
Paul highlights five key areas of a Christlike workstyle in Titus 2:9–10. According to verse 10, there is a clear purpose behind this godly workstyle. That workers may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
Your conduct at work can either attract people to Christ or repel them. What impression are you making?
Conclusion
Did you know that every day you go to work, you bear the image of God. Psalm 8:6.
Christian faith does not withdraw believers from the world. It sends them into it as salt and light. No matter your position, no matter your role, you have a Boss to answer to.
Colossians 3:22–24 makes it clear that although we may have earthly supervisors, employers, or authorities, our ultimate authority and true Master is Christ Himself.
A Prayer for Our Motherland
Let us rise and build.
Let us take the spirit of Colossians 3 into our offices, markets, schools, and construction sites.
Let us be the generation that turns the tide of mediocrity into a flood of majesty.
May our work be our witness.
May our sweat be a sweet smelling savour unto the Almighty.
As Ghana celebrates 69 years of independence, may this milestone not only remind us of political freedom but also awaken in us a renewed commitment to excellence, integrity, and national transformation. True independence is sustained when citizens work with discipline, patriotism, and the fear of God. May we honour the sacrifices of our forebears by building a Ghana marked by diligence, righteousness, and godly leadership.
And may God bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong.
Stay Blessed!
Please note that the preaching program on Sunny 88.7 FM – Tuesdays at 5:30 am has been temporarily put on hold. However, please continue to join us on Asempa 94.7 FM – Sundays at 5:30 am and YFM 107.9 – Sundays at 6:30 am for our Radio Bible Study, as well as on Sunny 88.7 FM every Sunday at 3:30 pm for Hymns and Their Stories.
