co-workers in God’s service

“I (Paul) planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God is making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have the same purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service, you are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-8

What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. 

You and I have such a variety of different roles and ‘jobs’ in our life with Christ. Some are seasonally smaller, while others are seasonally much bigger. I can’t imagine that this passage, speaking of God’s service, is only referring to ministry.

This might be a bit part of it, but I think God’s service can be in our daily lives also. Being kind, giving of our resources generously, praying for someone on the spot, serving a need, worshiping God with song or with action… in my mind, these are also including in God’s service.

While we have roles, responsibilities, and challenges given to us by God in Scripture, it is freeing to know that it is God who makes the seed grow. We can plant seeds all over our lives and our community, and He desires us to do so. We can come back and water those seeds, investing time and energy and prayer, and He wants that also. But He is the One who produces real transformation; He is the One who changes a situation or human heart.

Hallelujah. Does anyone else breathe a sigh of relief?

I do. A sigh of gratitude and praise.

St. Francis de Sales said, “There is nothing small in the service of God.”

We are all co-workers in the service of God. We are all working together, for Him, with Him. We are on the same team, promoting the same life-giving message. Let’s build each other up instead of tear each other down! Consider others more important than ourselves, remembering our true goal….

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Acts 20:24

Let it be so.