May 10, 2022
Let the Spinning Plates Shatter
Colossians 3
Jennifer Swenson
Central Truth
Rest in God, not in your performance.
Key Verse | Colossians 3:17, 23-24
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
. . .
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Colossians 3
Put On the New Self
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your 1 3:4 Some manuscripts our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: 2 3:5 Greek therefore your members that are on the earth sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 3 3:6 Some manuscripts add upon the sons of disobedience 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self 4 3:9 Greek man; also as supplied in verse 10 with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, 5 3:11 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; likewise for Bondservants in verse 22 free; but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Rules for Christian Households
18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22 Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, 6 3:22 Or your masters according to the flesh not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
Footnotes
[1] 3:4 Some manuscripts our[2] 3:5 Greek therefore your members that are on the earth
[3] 3:6 Some manuscripts add upon the sons of disobedience
[4] 3:9 Greek man; also as supplied in verse 10
[5] 3:11 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; likewise for Bondservants in verse 22
[6] 3:22 Or your masters according to the flesh
Listen to the Podcast
Listen NowDive Deeper | Colossians 3
Keeping all of the plates spinning in the air doesn't equal faithfulness. I was sitting across the table from my boss, who had just admonished me with the previous sentiment. I was overstressed and exhausted, buried under my growing task list.
My flesh is bent toward success, perfectionism, and legalism. They sneak in deceptively to look like faithfulness, and the enemy distorts Scripture to be burdensome. Reread Colossians 3:23-24 and Colossians 3:17 through this faulty lens.
No pressure, right? My work is a form of worship and a reflection of Jesus to my team, so it must be excellent! Why had I run myself into the ground at work? Faithfulness, of course [sarcasm]!
Yes, we should absolutely work hard and do things well (see above Scripture). But, just like my boss wasn't impressed with how I had run myself into the ground to keep all of the plates spinning, I don't think God was impressed by my "faithfulness" either. Self-imposed striving, overstress, and exhaustion are poor offerings of worship and are definitely not examples of the life that is found in Christ.
Instead, Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome." (1 John 5:3)
We can rest. God isn't asking us to perform as a way to earn favor, nor does He think we are limitless. He calls us to work hard, but also to rest in Him. I'm still learning how to be faithful in this area, to fight my flesh, to balance work and rest. I still cringe every time a spinning plate falls. But maybe the shattering plates are a beautiful sound to God's ears.
Discussion Questions
1. We all have good, well-meaning "plates" associated with church, family, work, and our community. How many plates do you have spinning? Do they allow for a balanced offering of worship to God, or are you overworked? Do you need to let any of them fall?
2. Has there been a time when you have misinterpreted or misapplied Scripture in your life? How did you recognize the mistake and what did you learn?