Colossians 3:23–24
“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.” (KJV)
There’s a truth we all need to be reminded of often: this life is not about us.
Humanity, by nature, wants control. We want to be the one who decides what happens, when it happens, and how it should happen. We want our plans, our desires, our preferences.
But the Bible makes something very clear: there is only one Boss of the universe, and it’s not us.
It is Jesus Christ.
Colossians 1:16–18 tells us:
“For by him were all things created…
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist…
And he is the head of the body, the church…
that in all things he might have the preeminence.”
Jesus created everything.
Jesus holds everything together.
Jesus leads His Church.
Jesus deserves first place in all things.
He is not just a priority among many; He is the One from whom all things flow.
He is Lord, not just in title, but in reality.
The question is: Do we live like Jesus is the Boss of our lives?
We All Serve Someone
The world likes to say, “I answer to no one.”
But Scripture teaches the opposite. Whether a person believes in Christ or not, every one of us will stand before Him.
Philippians 2:10–11 says:
“…at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
Every knee.
Every tongue.
Every nation.
Every generation.
Some will bow joyfully to their Savior.
Others will bow trembling before their Judge.
But all will bow.
So the question is not whether we will submit to Christ, but when.
If You Are in Christ, You Represent Him
The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17:
“Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.”
And then, in verse 20:
“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ.”
If you are saved, you are not who you used to be.
Your identity changes, your purpose changes, and your loyalty changes.
You are now an ambassador.
You represent the King.
This means:
- Your choices reflect Him.
- Your words reflect Him.
- Your treatment of others reflects Him.
- Your work ethic reflects Him.
- Your home life reflects Him.
We don’t bear the name of Jesus casually.
When we say, “I am a Christian,” we are saying, “I live under the authority of Jesus Christ the King.”
So if Jesus is the Boss, then He has the right to speak into every area of our lives.
What Does Submission Look Like?
Sometimes we think of serving God only in terms of ministry roles:
- Preaching
- Teaching
- Singing
- Serving at church
But Colossians 3:23–24 tells us that everything we do is service to the Lord.
Your work.
Your house responsibilities.
Your schoolwork.
Your parenting.
Your marriage.
Your conversations.
Your attitude.
It all belongs to Him.
So let’s look at a few areas Scripture addresses:
✅ Wives
Are you respecting your husband because Scripture commands it—or only when he earns it?
Ephesians 5:22 encourages wives to submit unto their husbands as unto the Lord.
You respect him because Jesus is your Boss, not because your husband is perfect.
✅ Husbands
Are you loving your wife with patience, gentleness, sacrifice, and humility?
Ephesians 5:25 says husbands must love their wives as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself.
This is not leadership by force, but by self-giving, servant-hearted love.
✅ Children
Do you obey your parents joyfully?
Colossians 3:20 says that obedience is well-pleasing to the Lord.
Not just listening with your ears, but honoring with your heart.
✅ Employees
Do you work hard only when the boss is watching?
Or do you give your best to honor Jesus, who always sees?
Colossians 3:23 says, “Do it heartily, as to the Lord…”
Your real Boss is Christ, not the manager who signs your paycheck.
✅ Every Believer
Do you worship only on Sunday, or do you walk with Christ Monday through Saturday?
Faith is not an event.
It is a lifestyle of daily surrender.
If Jesus Evaluated Your Effort…
This is a sobering question:
If Jesus were grading the effort you put into your service to Him, what would He say?
Would He see:
- Passion and joy?
- Faithfulness and consistency?
- Or excuses and half-hearted devotion?
We will give our best effort to the things we really care about:
- Career
- Hobbies
- Relationships
- Personal goals
But do we give our best to Christ?
If He truly is the Boss…
If He truly is Lord…
Then we should live like it.
Living for the Audience of One
The world applauds performance.
People chase approval, appearances, recognition, and reputation.
But Colossians 3:23–24 tells us that we work for the Lord, not for people.
We don’t…
- Serve to be seen.
- Give to be praised.
- Worship to be admired.
- Do good to be congratulated.
We do all things because Jesus is worthy.
And one day, He will reward what was done for His name.
Even the unseen faithfulness.
Key Takeaway
Jesus is the Boss.
He is Lord of creation, Lord of the church, and Lord over our daily lives.
As believers, we represent Him in everything we do: our marriages, families, work, attitudes, and habits.
So the question to examine today is simple but life-changing:
Do I live like Jesus is the Boss of my life?
Or am I still trying to be in charge?
A Heartfelt Conclusion
When we remember that Jesus is our Lord and King, obedience stops being a burden; it becomes worship.
Service stops being a chore; it becomes gratitude.
Daily life stops feeling small; it becomes eternal.
Because when Jesus is the Boss, our ordinary moments become holy moments.
May we live today in a way that reflects His greatness, not our own.
Call to Action
Take one area of your life, your marriage, parenting, work, speech, or habits, and simply pray:
“Lord, You are the Boss.
Show me how to honor You here.”
Then obey what He shows you, joyfully, willingly, wholeheartedly.
That is worship.
That is discipleship.
That is living under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.