The Heart Behind the Hands

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” — Colossians 3:23

Introduction – The True Test of Service

The Christian life is not defined by position but by posture. Paul, writing to believers in Colossae, addresses not the prominent but the overlooked — servants, labourers, the unnoticed hands that carried the weight of society. To them he commands, “Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”

Here is the difference between performance and worship. Men work for recognition; Christians work for righteousness. One demands applause; the other desires approval from above. The world measures success by how visible your hand is — God measures faithfulness by how pure your heart is.

The true test of service is not the size of the task but the sincerity of the motive.

I. The Command to Serve Wholeheartedly

Paul writes, “Whatsoever ye do.” The scope is absolute — no task is exempt from spiritual accountability. “Heartily” means from the soul, with all energy and intent. It is not half-hearted service, but complete surrender in duty.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 affirms this same principle: “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” A divided heart produces diluted work. God rejects mediocrity because mediocrity misrepresents Him.

Ephesians 6:7–8 echoes the charge: “With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord.” The Christian’s employer is Christ Himself.

This command was given to servants — many living under unjust masters — yet Paul never excused sloth because of circumstance. Faithful labour is a reflection of divine lordship, not human fairness.

Vance Havner once said, “The measure of a man is not what he does on Sunday, but what he does when nobody is watching.”

II. The Character of True Service

The believer’s work ethic must reflect his theology. The world works for pay; the Christian works from purpose. The word “heartily” speaks to motivation — not simply doing work, but doing it with glad surrender.

Romans 12:11 says, “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.” A fervent spirit reveals a living faith. Cold, indifferent service insults the very nature of God.

Proverbs 22:29 adds, “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.” Diligence is a divine distinguisher. The world rewards talent; God rewards tenacity.

The Lord Jesus Christ Himself modelled this. In John 9:4, He said, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day.” Every hour, every act, every miracle was marked by mission.

Charles Spurgeon commented, “The best work is that which is done with the heart, when the hands are busy and the soul is worshipping.” The heart behind the hands determines the holiness of the work.

III. The Contrast of Motives

Paul distinguishes two masters: “as to the Lord, and not unto men.” The believer serves a higher Supervisor. The moment you live for human approval, you forfeit divine reward.

Matthew 6:1 warns, “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.” Motive determines merit.

Galatians 1:10 presses this issue: “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” You cannot be Christ’s servant and the crowd’s entertainer simultaneously.

The true servant works unseen, unthanked, and often unappreciated — yet remains unwavering because the audience of One is enough.

Spurgeon warned, “If you live for man’s praise, you’ll die by his silence.” Working for the Lord liberates the believer from the tyranny of opinion.

IV. The Consequence of Service

The faithful worker may be forgotten by men but never by God. Paul assures the Colossians in the following verse: “Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:24)

The word “inheritance” here is striking — slaves had no legal inheritance, yet Paul reminds them they are heirs in Christ. God measures their faithfulness, not their freedom.

Hebrews 6:10 confirms this divine record: “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love.” Heaven never misplaces obedience.

1 Corinthians 3:8 further teaches, “Every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.” Not according to his success or title, but according to his faithfulness.

Every stroke of the brush, every note sung, every floor swept for His glory is marked, measured, and memorialised in heaven.

Adoniram Judson, who laboured for years before seeing fruit, once wrote, “A life once spent for God is worth more than a thousand lived for self.” God never forgets the faithful.

V. The Correction of Perspective

The phrase “as to the Lord” reorders perspective. It transforms drudgery into devotion. The believer’s mundane task becomes ministry when it is performed for the Master.

1 Corinthians 15:58 exhorts, “Be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” Labour in Christ is never lost.

Luke 16:10 provides the standard: “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.” God tests character in the small before entrusting the great.

Faithfulness in the ordinary qualifies one for the extraordinary. The man who cannot worship with a broom will never serve with a pulpit.

Spurgeon once said, “God does not measure service by bigness, but by the spirit in which it is done.”

When you understand you are serving Christ, no work is beneath you, no effort wasted, and no act unseen.

VI. The Celebration of the Heart

Finally, the verse calls the believer to joy — not merely obligation. True service is marked by gladness. The labour done “heartily” is the labour that brings peace.

Psalm 100:2 commands, “Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.” Joyless service is hypocrisy in motion.

Deuteronomy 10:12 defines the whole of man’s duty: “To fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” The service that flows from love outlasts all others.

God does not need your labour — He desires your love. The work of the hands only pleases Him when it originates in the worship of the heart.

Hudson Taylor, missionary to China, once wrote, “A man is immortal until his work is done.” Service for Christ is never wasted; it is woven into eternity.

Conclusion – The Honour of the Hidden

The Christian who labours unseen under the Lord’s eye accomplishes more than the one who works loudly for human praise. The heart behind the hands defines the holiness of the work.

Paul’s command eliminates excuses and establishes dignity. The servant scrubbing floors, the mother raising children, the teacher preparing lessons, the pastor preaching faithfully — each one stands equal before Christ if their motive is pure.

Work heartily, not hesitantly. Serve the Lord, not men. Every task is sacred when performed under His Lordship and for His glory.

The hand is only holy when the heart is wholly His. Labour becomes worship when it is done for Christ, not for credit.