Digging Deeper: The Greater Meaning of Colossians 3:24

“For you know that it is from Jehovah you will receive the inheritance as a reward. Slave for the Master, Christ.” (Colossians 3:24)

Paul wrote these words to Christian slaves in Colossae, people whose hard work was often taken for granted by their human masters. The main point is that Jehovah sees every bit of work we do for him and he will reward it. As the day’s text says, elders who shepherd, teach, help with construction, and support disaster relief can be sure that Jehovah values their fine work. And the same is true for all of us, no matter how modest our part may seem.

1“Whole-souled”: Giving Our Whole Self (ἐκ ψυχῆς, ek psy·khesʹ)

In the verse just before our text, Paul says: “Whatever you are doing, work at it whole-souled as for Jehovah, and not for men.” (Colossians 3:23) “Whole-souled” translates the Greek expression ἐκ ψυχῆς (ek psy·khesʹ), literally “from the soul.” The NWT study note explains that “soul” here means the entire person, so serving whole-souled means using all our abilities and strength as fully as we can.

This doesn’t mean everyone has to do the same amount. Jesus noticed a needy widow who dropped in “two small coins of very little value,” and he said: “This poor widow put in more than they all did.” (Luke 21:2, 3) She gave all she could. That is what whole-souled service looks like, and it is what Jehovah treasures.

• Jehovah doesn’t measure our service by its size but by whether we give him our best.

2“Inheritance”: A Gift From a Loving Father (κληρονομία, kle·ro·no·miʹa)

The Greek word κληρονομία (kle·ro·no·miʹa) means an inheritance, something a person receives from a father or family. It is related to a word for a “lot” or a “share,” the portion that was set aside for someone. The slaves Paul was writing to usually had no inheritance to look forward to, yet Paul told them they would receive one from Jehovah himself.

That shows how Jehovah views his servants. He doesn’t treat us like hired workers but like his own children, whom he is happy to provide for. For anointed Christians, the inheritance is in heaven, “incorruptible and undefiled and unfading.” (1 Peter 1:4) For the great majority, it is life on earth, just as Jesus promised: “Happy are the mild-tempered, since they will inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5)

• Whatever we give up or put into Jehovah’s service, our Father has a lasting inheritance waiting for us.

3“Reward”: Jehovah Gives Back (ἀνταπόδοσις, an·ta·poʹdo·sis)

The word for “reward” is ἀνταπόδοσις (an·ta·poʹdo·sis). It means a giving back in return, a repayment for what someone has done. This exact word appears only here in the Christian Greek Scriptures. Paul’s point is that nothing we do for Jehovah goes unpaid. In his letter to the Ephesians he said the same thing: “Whatever good each one does, he will receive this back from Jehovah, whether he is a slave or a freeman.” (Ephesians 6:8)

That includes the quiet things too, like overlooking an offense or forgiving someone, as the day’s text mentions. People may never notice, but Jehovah does. “For God is not unrighteous so as to forget your work and the love you showed for his name.” (Hebrews 6:10)

• Even when no one else sees what we do, Jehovah sees it, remembers it, and will repay it.