Paul, my friend, you use a lot of words! I suspect this may be a thought that crosses over my mind repeatedly as we work through many of Paul’s letters in the weeks to come. Just sayin’.
What does God say about the work and the rewards?
In this chapter Paul is addressing some problems that are appearing in the church. Bottom line, the Christ-followers are getting confused about what they’re supposed to be doing. In order to communicate the issue more clearly Paul, like Jesus, used a couple of examples that would help the believers understand and affect the change that God desires.
The farming example
There are many stages to producing crops and to our Christian life. The the soil has to be cultivated to accept the seed. The seed has to be planted, watered, cared for, and finally harvested. Paul points out that some of this work is left to the Christian. Our part in cultivating the soil is building relationships with people and showing them God’s love. God’s part that we can pray for is to draw them spiritually toward Him and remove the blinders to truth that Satan has used to keep them away. WE need to plant the seeds and water the seeds. I think Pastor Don usually quotes a statistic that a non-Christian needs an average of 7 Christians to impact their life. I know that it is true for my life. I had multiple Christians influence my life before I ever decided to make Jesus my Lord and Savior. I would be willing to bet that you have too. This is what Paul is saying. Some will plant some will water. It’s not a competition, we are all on the same team! Working on the planting and the watering is something that we need to do the best we can, and recognize the partnership of others, and of God in the work. It occurs to me that during this step we are also dependent on the work that God is doing but spiritually helping the process, maybe we could think of it as keeping the weeds (aka distractions and deterrents), therefore we continually pray. To finish this process by helping people understand their options about a relationship with Jesus. The question is, “What about Jesus?” The Bible says we are either for Him or against Him. (Matthew 12:30) They get to decide what they want to do, and God does the saving work to pay that person’s debt and adopt them into the family of God. What comes next?
The building example
With God’s strength and (1 Corinthians 3:10) we can lay a foundation to be built upon. Who is the foundation? Christ is the foundation. The house is not built on Paul, or on me or on you, it’s built on Jesus. Getting that piece straight will set us up for the rest of the work. Using God’s truth and love and sacrificially giving time and patience to walk alongside a new believer, we are able to wisely build upon the foundation that was laid for us. This is also a team effort! As with my salvation, I can also think of several people that God used to help me grow in my faith. They helped me learn how to read and study my Bible. Others that helped me apply the truth that I had learned and held me accountable for that. Others that taught me how to pray, how to give, how to share my faith, and so on. It’s disciple making. It’s what God has called every believer to do. It’s building upon the foundation of Christ and our relationship with Him. As a team, we take part in the building process with people because we really can’t not do that. Can we?
The chapter continues on to talk about the holiness of our temple and the wisdom of working for God. Remember God doesn’t just live somewhere “up there”. When we invite Him into our lives, He gives us the Holy Spirit who lives in us to help us, to pray for us, and to remind us of who God is and how that changes our life.
In light of all of this, there are a few questions that arise.
Are we spiritual or worldly? Meaning are we concerned with the things of God and the work that God has given us to do or are we concerned with our position? With the attention that we are receiving? I can honestly say that from the time that I made a decision for Christ as a 12 year old, to now (a few years later) I am MUCH more concerned about what God thinks of me than of what people think of me. That did not happen overnight. Not by saying a prayer. It happened over time and experience, with God and with other believers.
Am I planting and watering or am I letting someone else do that? Everything in life is easier when someone else is responsible, isn’t it? I see that everywhere, don’t you? “Not my job, not my problem.” But when Jesus’ work was done on earth He left, and the work that He started had to continue. He’s not here in the flesh but we are. It’s not someone else’s job to plant and water, it’s my job. Can I get an amen?!
As part of God’s family, It’s also my job to help others successfully do their part. Am I helping or hindering Christians? Do I tear down the progress that someone else has made or add to it by honoring them, lifting them up in prayer, in other words being a good team mate. For example. When I speak negatively about a fellow believer, I’ve just torn something down in God’s work. Think about this from the perspective of the lost person. Does it help them see the reality of your faith and that of other Christians when you’re demeaning or arguing with them about non-essential matters?
Am I building? Am I building my own faith by living in community with others in small groups, classes, personal study, mentoring, etc? Am I building into anyone else, or again, letting other’s do that?
It probably is true that something is being built, intentionally or unintentionally– pause and think about that. Are the building materials good? Meaning, are you building TRUTH from God into others or your personal opinion? Are you showing right attitudes and right actions for others to see intentionally or unintentionally? Or do you just go with the flow and have some “good days” and some “bad days”? As you might be able to read in my comments, you are influencing people whether you mean to or not. It puts me in mind of the phrase “more is caught than taught”.
