Bible Commentaries
Colossians 3

Verses 1-17

His Preeminence in our Affections (Spiritual Transformation) - Paul has taught doctrine in chapter one and shown the Colossians how to renew their minds when confronted with false teachings in chapter two. In the last two chapters, Paul continues to follow a progression of thought. Paul then teaches the Colossians how to hold Christ preeminent in the affections of our hearts. Paul first summarizes our new life in Christ (Colossians 3:1-4) by telling the church to “seek” those things above (Colossians 3:1) instead of things of the world. The NIV says, “Set your heart on things above.” Therefore, the central idea of this passage is to have a heart that desires the things of God. Paul then proceeds to give them guidance and instructions in order to show them how to accomplish this goal. Paul knew that a person receives knowledge by what he sees and hears. This knowledge enters the heart. It is there that the man or woman chooses what to believe and it is there that a person is able to control what his heart desires. A person then begins to make decisions based upon what he believes and these decisions determine his actions, or the path or lifestyle that he lives. Thus, Paul knows that it is possible for every believer to develop wholesome desires if he will follow these procedures. He understood that a person’s desires and affections could be directed by his will. We can choose where to place our interests in this life.

Therefore, in order to have a pure heart, Paul tells the believers to first bring their thoughts into obedience with the things of God (Colossians 3:2). This means that they are to guard what enters their ears and eyes. He then tells them their identity with Christ and their destiny of glory (Colossians 3:3-4). This is what they are to hear and believe and then live their lives according to these truths. In light of this divine truth (Colossians 3:1-4), they are to stop living like the world lives, in the passions of their lusts (Colossians 3:5-7). Paul calls this putting off the old man (Colossians 3:8-9) and putting on the new man (Colossians 3:10-11). Paul explains how to put on the new man in Colossians 3:12-17. This new walk will bring peace in their hearts (Colossians 3:15). They are to renew their minds with the Word of God (Colossians 3:16) so that what they do will be done to bring glory to the Father (Colossians 3:17). This passage basically tells us how to develop our spirits for a spirit-led life.

1. Seek Things Above Colossians 3:1-4

2. Put Off the Old Man Colossians 3:5-10

3. Put On the New Man Colossians 3:12-17

Colossians 3:1 “where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God”- Scripture References - Note similar verses:

Psalms 110:1, “The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” - Jesus is at God the Father's right hand until God the Father makes Jesus' enemies his footstool.

Acts 2:33 - There Jesus is exalted, having received promises of Holy Ghost, and shed it abroad.

Acts 2:34 - There Jesus is Lord of all.

Ephesians 1:20-23 - There Jesus is set above all earthly and heavenly powers and authorities, all things being put under His feet, being head of the Church.

Hebrews 1:8 - Jesus’ throne is forever and ever, carried out in righteousness.

Hebrews 7:25 - There He ever lives to make intercession.

Hebrews 8:2 - There Jesus is a minister of the true heavenly Tabernacle.

1 Corinthians 15:24-28 - There Jesus will reign until all things are put under His feet, and then Jesus will delivery up the kingdom to the Father, and Jesus himself will become subject to the Father.

Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Colossians 3:2 Comments - It is an act of our will, a decision that we must make daily, to set our affections on things above. It is easy for us to find interests in earthly things. These interests can quickly move our affections to be greater than our desire for the things of God (Proverbs 4:23).

Proverbs 4:23, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

Colossians 3:1-2 Comments Seek Those Things Above - Colossians 3:1-2 does not tell us to focus on the Cross, but rather to focus on our position at the right hand of the Father. This is because Colossians places emphasis upon the Lordship of Jesus Christ and not on His Resurrection as do the Gospels and Acts. We even find Paul placing emphasis upon the Cross in his epistle to the Galatians because he is discussing our justification through faith in the Cross.

Colossians 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Colossians 3:3 Comments Our life is hid with Christ in God. Our real life is not this flesh and blood, but the inner, hidden (unable to be seen with the naked eye) man, the spirit inside our bodies (1 Peter 3:3-4).

1 Peter 3:3-4, “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”

Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Colossians 3:4 Comments Colossians 3:4 is a clear reference to the glorious Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. At that time, all of the saints will appear with Him.

1 Thessalonians 3:13, “To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints .”

Jude 1:14, “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints ,”

Many scholars believe that these verses support the teaching that the rapture of the Church will take place before the Tribulation period since the saints will need to be in Heaven when Jesus appears at the end of this seven year tribulation period.

Colossians 3:10 Comments How do we put on the new man? Colossians 3:12 to Colossians 4:6 explains how to do this, as this passage begins by saying, “Put on, therefore...”

Colossians 3:15 “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts” Word Study on “rule” Strong says the Greek word “rule” ( βραβευ ́ ω ) (G1018) literally means, “to arbitrate, to govern,” and figuratively, “to prevail.”

Comments - The primary way that we are led by the Spirit is by the peace that we feel in making decisions. Our conscience is the voice of our spirit. We are to let our conscience decide and direct our decisions. If we feel grieved at a decision and lack God's peace, it probable is the wrong decision to make. So, the peace of God rules our hearts when we are led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14).

Romans 8:14, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

How do we train ourselves to hear the voice of our conscience? We read in Philippians 4:6-7 that we go to the Lord in prayer and thanksgiving. During these times of prayer, we learn to how to still our mind and flesh so that we can listen to our heart. We decide what we have the most peace about doing, and follow the path that gives us the most peace in our hearts.

Philippians 4:6-7, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus .”

Colossians 3:15 “to the which also ye are called in one body” Comments - The Greek phrase είς ήν (unto which) means that we were called “unto peace.” The context of this passage is getting along with brothers in Christ. We are called to be at peace with one another (1 Corinthians 7:15).

1 Corinthians 7:15, “But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.”

Colossians 3:14-15 Comments The Love Walk - Colossians 3:14 says that love is the bond of maturity. In other words, everything we do must be governed by love. Love is what brings together everything that we do in a manner that pleases God. Goodspeed translates Romans 14:15 to read, “For if your brother’s feelings are hurt by what you eat, your life is not governed by love…”

We are to govern our lives by love in everything that we do. Kenneth Hagin teaches us that our conscience is the voice of a man’s spirit. [90] Colossians 3:15 tells us to govern our decisions by whether or not we have a peace in our hearts. When we allow ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit, we find that a peace in our heart indicates that a decision is within God’s will and a check in our spirit indicates that something is not God’s will. Thus, we allow the peace of God to be our guide. If we do this, we will be allowing love to govern our decisions (Colossians 3:14).

[90] Kenneth Hagin, How You Can Be Led By the Spirit of God (Tulsa, Oklahoma: Faith Library Publications, c1986, 1997), 59.

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom” Comments - When we study God’s Word and let our understanding of God’s Word be received into our hearts, God is able to draw divine revelations out of our heart and speak to us. “Richly” means that your heart should be filled with God's Word. The phrase “in all wisdom” means not just head memory of God's Word, but the revelation and true meaning of God’s Word is alive in our hearts.

In addition, the Word of God strengthens us. Note these comments from Frances J. Roberts:

“Let thy praises rise in the daytime and in the night. Yea, when thou are utterly spent, then shall My speech fall upon thee. Then shalt thou lie down in peace and rise up in joy, and thou shalt be partaker of a perpetual fountain. As it is written: Out of thine innermost being shall gush forth rivers of living water.”

“Let the Word of God dwell in thee richly; for My Words, they are Spirit, and they are Life. They are living and powerful, and thou shalt wield them in faith effectively against the powers of darkness.” [91]

[91] Frances J. Roberts, Come Away My Beloved (Ojai, California: King’s Farspan, Inc., 1973), 44.

Colossians 3:16 “teaching and admonishing one another” Comments - Kenneth Hagin says that if someone did not know beforehand what was contained in these psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, then the songs would teach them. If however, they had already been taught these teachings, then the songs would admonish them, or remind them. [92]

[92] Kenneth Hagin, Plans Purposes and Pursuits (Tulsa, Oklahoma: Faith Library Publications, c1988, 1993), 135.

Colossians 3:16 “in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” Comments “in psalms” - Kenneth Hagin says, “A psalm is a spiritual poem or ode. It may or may no; however, there is an element of poetry about it. It may be sung, chanted or just recited. The Old Testament records 150 psalms…A person given to music would naturally sing a psalm given by the Spirit.” Others not so gifted would just speak them out. [93]

[93] Kenneth Hagin, Plans Pursuits and Purposes (Tulsa, Oklahoma: Faith Library Publications, c1988, 1993), 121.

This Greek word is used in other New Testament passages:

1 Corinthians 14:15, “What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.”

1 Corinthians 14:26, “How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm , hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.”

Ephesians 5:19, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;”

James 5:13, “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms .”

“and hymns” - Regarding hymns, there are several New Testament example of the use of hymns when Jesus led the disciples in worship by singing hymns of praise to the Lord and when Paul and Silas sang hymns together in prison. Obviously, both times, these hymns were inspired by the Lord.

Matthew 26:30, “And when they had sung an hymn , they went out into the mount of Olives.”

Acts 16:25, “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”

The author of Hebrews uses this same Greek word again in the context of corporate worship:

Hebrews 2:12, “Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.”

It is also used in the parallel passage of Colossians:

Ephesians 5:19, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;”

“and spiritual songs” - Hagin says, “A spiritual song is a song that brings forth the revelation of the Word that the Spirit has given you.” He says that this song is not limited to the written Word of God, for these believers at Ephesus did not have the New Testament Scriptures as we have them today. “It may be a Scriptures, a word of encouragement, or a word of exhortation, etc.” [94]

[94] Kenneth Hagin, Plans Pursuits and Purposes (Tulsa, Oklahoma: Faith Library Publications, c1988, 1993), 122.

The Greek word for “song” is used in other New Testament passages:

Ephesians 5:19, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs , singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;”

Revelation 5:9, “And they sung a new song , saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;”

Revelation 14:3, “And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.”

Revelation 15:3, “And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.”

Conclusion Kenneth Hagin teaches that all of these psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs are uttered when we yield to the Spirit. They may or may not be recorded in songbooks. It is in this manner that we are allowing “the word of Christ to dwell in us richly” (Colossians 3:16). Hagin says, “The supernatural utterance the Holy Spirit gives you on the spur of the moment” is “by the spirit of prophecy.” [95] This is why 1 Corinthians 14:5 says that we may all prophesy.

[95] Kenneth Hagin, Plans Pursuits and Purposes (Tulsa, Oklahoma: Faith Library Publications, c1988, 1993), 123; Kenneth Hagin, Following God’s Plan For Your Life (Tulsa, Oklahoma: Faith Library Publications, c1993, 1994), 28.

1 Corinthians 14:5, “I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied : for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.”

In fact, within the context of this passage on prophecy, we find a similar list of utterances as seen in Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16:

1 Corinthians 14:26, “How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.”

Colossians 3:16 “singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” Word Study on “with grace…to the Lord” - The Greek construction ( χάριν ἔχω τῷ Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ ) or ( χάρις τῷ θεῷ ) [96] or some variation of this phrase is found no less than thirteen times in the Greek New Testament (Luke 17:9, Romans 6:17; Romans 7:25, 1 Corinthians 10:30; 1Co 15:57 , 2 Corinthians 2:14; 2 Corinthians 8:16; 2 Corinthians 9:15, Colossians 3:16, 1 Timothy 1:12, 2 Timothy 1:3, Philemon 1:7 [t.r.], Hebrews 12:28). It is properly translated in a variety of ways; “I am grateful to God,” or “I thank God,” “Let’s give thanks,” or “with thanks to the Lord.”

[96] Kurt Aland, Matthew Black, Carlo M. Martini, Bruce M. Metzger, M. Robinson, and Allen Wikgren, The Greek New Testament, Fourth Revised Edition (with Morphology) (Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1993, 2006), in Libronix Digital Library System, v. 2.1c [CD-ROM] (Bellingham, WA: Libronix Corp., 2000-2004), Colossians 3:16.

Comments - When believers are speaking under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, these words ascend in worship “to the Lord.”

Colossians 3:17 “ whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” - Comments - As you conduct you daily life, live so that the world will not see a Christian living worldly, but as an example and a light in this world to Jesus Christ. For example, a Christian should have much patience and self-control in daily affairs.

Colossians 3:17 “giving thanks to God and the Father by him” Scripture References - Note similar verses:

Ephesians 5:20, “ Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”

Colossians 2:7, “Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving .”

Verses 1-25

Practical Application: The Preeminence of Christ in Christian Living - Kenneth Hagin and other great Bible teaches tell us that we are created as a three-fold person. [86] We are transformed through a process of renewing our minds, transforming our hearts and then directing our bodies into a godly lifestyle. Thus, Paul follows this order in his teaching to the Colossians so that Christ Jesus might be preeminent in their daily lives. Chapters two through four of Colossians teach us how to apply the doctrinal truths laid out in the first chapter to our personal lives.

[86] Kenneth Hagin, Man on Three Dimensions (Tulsa, Oklahoma: Faith Library Publications, c1973, 1985); and Kenneth Hagin, The Human Spirit (Tulsa, Oklahoma: Faith Library Publications, c1985).

Outline Here is a proposed outline:

1. His Preeminence in our Thinking (Mental Transformation) Colossians 2:1-23

2. His Preeminence in our Affections (Spiritual Transformation) Colossians 3:1-17

3. His Preeminence in our Conduct (Physical Transformation) Colossians 3:18 to Colossians 4:6

Verses 18-19

Submission Between Husbands and Wives - Colossians 3:18-19 discusses the role of submission in marriage between a husband and a wife in the fear of the Lord.

Colossians 3:18 “as it is fit in the Lord” Illustration - I once met an elderly Christian couple who told me this story. In the years past, the wife would go to church despite the husband's protests. He had not yet been saved, so he did not want his wife to be around Christians and their way of thinking. One day, the wife returned home from church to find herself locked out of the house by her angry husband. Yet, this bit of persecution did not discourage her in her faith in God. Was she being disobedient to this passage of Scripture? Colossians 3:18 gives qualifications to the wife's submissive position in a marriage. This means that commandment to be submissive is not all-inclusive to every situation in her life. If her submission is proper in the eyes of the Lord, she is doing well. If her submission is not fitting to the Lord, she must obey what the Lord has ordained in His Word, despite persecution from the world, including her husband.

Colossians 3:18 Comments - Now, if I were writing this epistle as an American born in a culture where marriage was consummated by to people who mutually loved each other, I would begin this passage by saying, “Wives, love your husbands.” However, Paul does not ask once in this passage for the wives to love their husbands. Why would this be so?

One reason might be the fact that in this culture, as in many cultures today, the fathers chose the husband for the bride. A wedding was not consummated out of love, but out of a mutual arrangement by a father and a daughter's obedience to a father. The wife was to learn to love her husband. Perhaps Uriah and Bathsheba were newly married and therefore, she had not yet developed a deep love for her husband. Therefore, her heart was not as torn apart as a person who had lost one who was dearly loved.

Verses 18-25

His Preeminence in our Conduct (Physical Transformation) In Colossians 3:18 to Colossians 4:6 Paul gives them specific charges so that they will be challenged to begin to walk in this new life. This passage is about submitting to one another (5:21), because we have a Master in Heaven (Colossians 4:1). They are to learn how to allow Christ to rule their homes, in all of their relationships as wives, as husbands, as children, as fathers, as slaves and as masters (Colossians 3:18 to Colossians 4:1). Thus, we can see in this passage of Scripture the manifestation of Christ ruling our lives by how we behave in our social relationships. They are also exhorted to learn how to let Christ rule their prayer time and church time (Colossians 4:2-4), to be careful how they conduct themselves with those outside the church as they learn to bring their words into obedience to Christ (Colossians 4:5-6). When a man learns to bring his words in submission, he has reached the state of maturity that God has called him to (James 3:2).

James 3:2, “For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.”

Outline - Note the proposed outline:

1. At Home (Domestic Duties) Colossians 3:18 to Colossians 4:1

i. Husbands and Wives Colossians 3:18-19

ii. Children and Parents Colossians 3:20-21

iii. Masters and Slaves Colossians 3:22 to Colossians 4:1

2. At Church (Religious Duties) Colossians 4:2-4

3. In the World (Civil Duties) Colossians 4:5-6

Verses 20-21

Submission Between Children and Parents Colossians 3:20-21 discusses the role of submission in parenting between children and parents in the fear of the Lord.

Colossians 3:21 Word Study on “be discouraged” - Strong says the Greek word “be discouraged” ( α ̓ θυμε ́ ω ) (G120) means, “to be spiritless, to be disheartened.”

Colossians 3:21 Comments - Colossians 3:20 has just told the children to obey their parents. If the parents then take an unfair advantage of this privilege of leadership by being too harsh or unfair, then the children will become discouraged and lose heart in their efforts to obey and please their parents. Fathers can cause children to deeply resent them so that the children become discouraged about trying to excel in any area of life.

Verses 22-25

Submission Between Masters and Slaves - The passage of Colossians 3:22 to Colossians 4:1 addresses the relationship of slave and master in regards to submitting to one another in the fear of the Lord. We may apply it today to employee-employer. Paul deals with this social relationship within the context of the theme of Colossians, which is the Lordship of Jesus Christ in the life of a believer. Slave ownership was an important part of the economic structure of the Roman society. Without it, the Empire would not be able to finance its infrastructure. Yet our Christian ethics tell us that it is morally wrong.

Slavery in the African Mission Field - In order to understand the wisdom that the Lord gave Paul in dealing with the issue of slavery, it is helpful to look back upon a similar incident in the missionary efforts of Alexander Mackay and his team as they made their way to the East African country of Uganda to evangelize the natives. Upon arriving on the east coast of Africa, the team initially chased slave caravans and successfully set free a number of slaves. However, they quickly found themselves in ill favor with many native people around them. When an Arab slave-dealer named Songoro ran to find refuge with two team members of Mackay, the local king sent a troop of natives and killed the entire group, the slave-dealer and the two white missionaries. Mackay learned a difficult lesson about engaging himself in the private affairs of the local people, particularly when it involved slave trade. [97] Although Wilberforce had led the British Parliament in condemning slavery in the West a few decades earlier, and the Civil War in the U.S. freed American slaves, it was not Mackay’s role to change this primitive African society by force, but rather by conversion to Christ so that the people would change their society willingly, which is exactly what took place in the decades ahead in East Africa. If fact, Mackay changed his approach by asking the king of Uganda to do away with slavery in his territory, which did not work immediately.

[97] C. T. Wilson, Alexander Mackay: Missionary Hero of Uganda. (London: The Sunday School Union, 1893), p. 29, 31-32

Colossians 3:22 “but in singleness of heart” - Comments Strong says the Greek word “singleness” ( α ̔ πλο ́ της ) (G572) means “singleness, sincerity, generosity.” It is used in Matthew 6:22.

Matthew 6:22, “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single , thy whole body shall be full of light.”

Colossians 3:22 Comments - Slavery - Slavery was a big part of the fabric of Roman society. There were an estimated sixty million slaves serving their masters in the Roman Empire, which had an estimated population of one hundred and twenty million people. Thus, half of the population was bound in slavery. The cruel Roman government enforced this bondage because the success of its economy was dependent upon the sweat of slave labour. Thus, Paul had to be careful not to appear as if he was calling for a revolution of emancipation of slavery. He would have quickly been thrown in prison. Yet, his Jewish background found him against it. His understand of the Gospel led him to the understanding that slavery was not God’s will for mankind. Thus, every time Paul addresses this issue, he does it with carefulness by drawing attention to the spiritual laws of freedom in Christ and servanthood to one another.

1 Corinthians 7:21, “Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.”

Ephesians 6:5-9, “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 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, whether he be bond or free. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.”

1 Timothy 6:1-2, “Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.”

1 Peter 2:18, “Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.”

Colossians 3:23 Word Study on “heartily” The Greek phrase ἐκ ψυχῆς (heartily) literally means, “from the soul.” BDAG says it means, “from the heart, or gladly.”

Colossians 3:23 Comments - Someone who begins a task and is out to please man generally will not last long, but will cease when the praises cease. However, one who does something to please God regardless of man’s thought, will often get the job done. Whatever you do, do it from this point of view, “I’m not doing this to please so-and-so, but I’m doing this task for Jesus, to please God.”

Colossians 3:23-24 Comments Serving as Unto the Lord - In May 1993, I was working with DMJ Management. I had just been promoted from a maintenance man at Brown Trail Apartments up to the position of construction manager. At this time, the annual voting took place throughout the company for various awards. These awards were to be handed out at the annual banquet in June. I was voted as the employee of the year. However, since I had just been promoted to a position of a supervisor a few weeks earlier, I was now disqualified for these awards. One day I received a call from the manager of this company. He explained to me that I had received the award, but that it would have to be given to the runner-up. I responded by saying it was fine with me, since I was doing my job as a service to the Lord. I then quoting these two verses to my boss, as the Lord quickened them to me.