Home ownership is attractive. Why pay rent when you can invest your hard-earned money into an asset that may appreciate over time? However, owning a home takes effort. The lawn must be mowed, the siding must be painted, and the roof must be repaired. But even while a rental might be easier, homeownership is considered a worthy investment.

In his letter to the Colossians, Paul encourages his readers to do the hard work of maintaining the faith they have attained. They need to continue to live their lives in submission to the authority of Jesus (v. 6). He uses two images to describe the hard work they need to do. First, they need to remain rooted in Christ (v. 7). Like a plant extending roots for nutrients in the soil, they need to sink their roots deep in the knowledge of their Savior.

Second, their faith needs to be built up like a firm foundation that supports a building. They are to strengthen their faith and cultivate a heart “overflowing with thankfulness” (v. 7). Paul’s advice was important because the Colossians lived in a dangerous place, awash in “hollow and deceptive philosophy” (v. 8). These teachings were not based on Christ but on cultural practices and even the demonic world. Proponents of these ideas were always on the lookout for converts to ensnare. The Colossians needed to avoid being taken captive, and Paul’s warnings also ring true for us today!

Like home ownership, living out our faith takes work. The Colossians could not assume that just because they came to faith in Christ in the past, they would not need to expend energy on a regular basis to maintain that faith against opposition. In the same way, we need to realize that the work we do now for Christ is of eternal value.

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