The Bible’s admonition in Colossians 3:23 that Christians do their work heartily or “wholeheartedly” is a popular verse in the faith-at-work movement. It’s oft-quoted but rarely explained. The implications of what it means and how to work heartily are actually more far-reaching than what one might initially believe. It means considerably more than just that Christians should work hard.

Working heartily applies to all legitimate work

Additionally, it is not an idea that originates in the New Testament. When King Jehoshaphat was instructing Israel’s judges he laid out some specific do’s and don’ts, and then he finished with this: “Thus you shall do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully and wholeheartedly.” 2 Chronicles 19:9. The requirement that we do our jobs heartily transcends both Old and New Covenants.

Moreover, what Paul instructed the servants in Colossae, Jehoshaphat instructed the judges in Israel. What applies then to Christians in one of the least desired jobs (servant) applies in one of the most desired and honored jobs (judge). It is fair to infer then that it also applies to every job in-between.

Working heartily applied in the Old Testament. Working heartily applied in the New Testament. Working heartily applies to all jobs. For a Christian, the command to work heartily is inescapable.

What “heartily” means

The Hebrew words translated “wholeheartedly” in 2 Chronicles 19:9 are “lebab shalem.”  “Lebab” is the Hebrew word for inner man or mind, will, and heart. Shalem means “complete” or “whole.”

Similarly the Greek word used in Colossians 3:23  is the Greek word “psuche,” transliterated “psyche.” This refers to the inner life, the soul, or self. With the modifiers used, it is translated “heartily” or “with all your heart.” It is interesting that Paul does not use the Greek word for heart—“kardia”—here, even though he uses it in the same passage when he instructs the Colossians to obey their masters in the “sincerity of heart.”^⁠

While kardia is usually translated “heart”or “mind” in the New Testament, “psuche” is translated more broadly to mean the soul, life, emotions, and heart. The significance here is that if Paul had instructed Christians to do their work with all their “kardia” we might be parsing out whether that meant the mind or emotions or the will, but that he used “psuche” makes such arguments moot—we are to do our work with all our souls, with all of who we are, wholeheartedly.

Kebab shalem and psuche express the same command. Mind. Will. Emotions. We are to work with all three fully engaged and committed to the task before us.

Learning how to work wholeheartedly

This series of posts will explore exactly what that means for citizens of the kingdom of God in 2025 in whatever job they may be working.

Like good “Greeks” and “Westerners” we will break down the meaning of what it means to work heartily. Then we will put it back together and examine it holistically, like good Hebrews, with examples from the life of Jesus, Paul, and some modern heroes, to see what it looks like in real life.

And hopefully, when we are done, you will be ready to engage your work in a refreshingly new way, armed with new strategies for overcoming emotional obstacles and mindful distractions that have kept you from working heartily in the past. GS