SATURDAY, MAY 6
1 Corinthians 3:5-9
Mark 4:26-29

"…God gave the increase."

WE ARE MERE SERVANTS!

The partisan spirit in the church at Corinth reveals an erroneous understanding of leaders and Christian ministry. Paul therefore took great effort to emphasize that he and Apollos were but mere ministers or servants (diakonoi) of the Lord. They are just simply privileged to be serving as "…labourers together with God…" (1 Cor 3:9).

The first illustration Paul used comes from the field of agriculture. Paul wanted the Corinthian Christians to know that they were but farmers serving in the Lord’s vineyard. As some masters owned large fields and vineyards, it became necessary to diversify labour among the servants and to assign them specialised tasks. Some might be assigned to plough the fields, others to scatter the seeds. Yet another group may be instructed to water the crop. Each job assigned is critical in the agricultural process. Nevertheless, the growth of the plant is mysterious and is due wholly to God. Similarly, God had assigned Paul and Apollos different things to do for Him. Each one is responsible to labour faithfully for the Lord, but in the end the Lord will be the One who gives the increase. God must be given all the glory, not man.

John MacArthur makes an astute observation concerning this passage. "Paul here mentions only two types of ministry, represented by planting and watering. His principle, however, applies to every type of ministry. In our eyes, some Christian work is more glamorous, or seems more important or more significant than other work. But if God has called a person to a work, that is the most important ministry he can have."

Indeed, wherever God leads us, that will be the best place for us. Our duty is to do what God wants us to do. The carnal mind will glorify one work above another, but the spiritual mind will understand that all labourers are equally important in the work of the Lord.

THOUGHT: I am but an unworthy servant of the Lord.
PRAYER: Lord, help me not to be envious of my fellow labourers.