1 Corinthians 3:8
The scripture for today is 1 Corinthians 3:8
1 Corinthians 3:8 Now he that plants and he that waters are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.
In the church at Corinth, the members had established unique groups that identified them with their favorite apostle. The apostle Paul in his letter to them exposes the folly of this kind of thinking. “For while one says, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are you not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?” 1 Corinthians 3:4-5
Paul makes it clear that the instruments that God chooses to use are not to be the focus of attention. The church is to find its identity in Christ, not the servants of Christ. The thinking of carnal man always leads to dissension, division, and discord. These things were developing in the Corinthian church.
God has called His ministers (we are all His ministers) to work together for the common cause of reaching the lost for the sake of Jesus Christ. It does not matter which assignment is given to us, our responsibility is to do that which we have been called and equipped to do. As we work together to fulfill the great commission, we are working as one; we are engaged in the same ministry, for the same cause.
“God’s servants are to work together, blending in kindly, courteous order, ‘in honor preferring one another.’ Romans 12:10. There is to be no unkind criticism, no pulling to pieces of another’s work; and there are to be no separate parties. Every man to whom the Lord has entrusted a message has his specific work. Each one has an individuality of his own, which he is not to sink in that of any other man. Yet each is to work in harmony with his brethren. In their service, God’s workers are to be essentially one. No one is to set himself up as a criterion, speaking disrespectfully of his fellow workers or treating them as inferior. Under God each is to do his appointed work, respected, loved, and encouraged by the other laborers. Together they are to carry the work forward to completion.” Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p.275-276
God will reward those who are faithful in doing the work of ministry. The reward will be received “according to his own labor.” We tend to measure success by volume; those with the most or highest numbers are considered the most successful. God measures success according to the faithfulness of the worker. May we be among those who are faithful, allowing the Holy Spirit to work mightily through us.
God bless you as you continue in His service.
Tim