We Are Planters
(5) What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe — as the Lord has assigned to each his task. (6) I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. (7) So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. (8) The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. (9) For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. I Corinthians 3:5-9
God has given us a special gift. Our internet work has affected millions around the world and continues to do so. It makes me stand in awe that two of our past members planted a few seeds in the world of html and created our website sixteen years ago and those seeds have grown into millions of students around the world. Was it their expertise in creating html for web pages or was it the power of God who gives the increase that made it awesome? Now, our beloved Al punches keys, writes html code and takes care of the website. Is it his superior ability to code or is it the power of God making things grow from the seed he is planting?
The answer is not difficult for either situation. God is the power and we are only His servants. It is not me, nor is it Al or anyone else who has ever touched the website that makes it so awesome. It is God giving the increase who makes the difference.
I teach, you support, Al codes web files, but it is God who does the real work. Can you really see yourself smack in the middle of something that is touching millions? Can you feel that you are a part of something so large? Do you realize that the millions God has taught through us in the past is just a drop in the bucket to what is coming? It is already underway and you are dropping the seed that God is empowering. I want you to reach out and touch that.
When God is the power provider, several things will happen. First of all, you and I will never, ever know the level of good that is done. And, the good part is, we don’t need to know. We just need to know that, in His hands, things will explode within His purpose. Secondly, it makes us keep our place. We are only servants of the Powerful One who works to His Glory and not ours. And thirdly, as light breaks through the darkness and good replaces evil in the world, you and I can know that, in some small way, we planted seed in God’s field with which God is changing the world.
So, the big question. What does all of that make us? Are you ready? NOTHING! So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
I can be completely happy with that, can you? It thrills me to know that you and I do not have the responsibility to change the world. We do, however, have the responsibility to plow, plant and water. It is not our responsibility to make anything grow. But, it is our responsibility to get the seed in the ground.
God has given us the tools to affect millions, who, in turn, can affect hundreds of millions. Now that gets exciting. And, as all of this happens, who gets the feather in their cap? God and God ALONE!
You and I are servants, given the responsibility to work with whatever God gives us. We have a gift and with this gift, God is glorified in His Increase. Awesome!
So, as a church, we can stand behind this great opportunity to be Seed Sowers in the world and watch God do His best work. When we see Him make things grow we can be assured that all is well and working in His will and by His power. But, taking it a step further, when we can TRUST (faith) Him to take our efforts and change the world, whether we see it or not, THEN we can really enjoy His power and supremacy in all things.
Our God, He is Alive!
“So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11