Planting and Watering - Study 6/30/11
Planting and Watering?
I was delighted last night by the confession of my son, Jonathan who is now five and half years old. Jonathan said, “Daddy, I am afraid. I need God”. The context is that it was bed time and I had turned off the light. After his confessional, he gets up and proceeds to get the children’s bible from the bookshelf in his room and then asks me to read for him. Now, this was a very special moment because I was surprised and touched by the depth of his understanding of the concept of God. I was also surprised because as a parent you never know what your children are learning and taking in. I was delighted because it means that somehow, my wife and I must have planted and watered some seeds that God has caused to grow in Jonathan. To God be the glory.
We are all planting and watering in the course of life. The question is what seed are we planting and watering. In our study for today, we learn about planting and watering from the lives of Apostle Paul and Apollos. Paul wrote, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:6). In the context of the divisions in the Corinthian Church, we are challenged as followers of Christ to mind how we build. Are you planting or watering for God? It does not really matter which you are doing but that you and I are planting or watering or doing both at the same time. Are you afraid today? Do you need God?
1 Corinthians 3
1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”;[a] 20 and again, “The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”[b] 21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. 23 And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Apostle Paul led by the Holy Spirit, lays out the process of the work of God using agricultural metaphors – planting and watering. This is so fitting in the context of the contentions and divisions in the Corinthian Church where people were taking sides with personality types – Paul or Apollos. Are you so in love with any particular minister of God? Then read on and put them where they belong in the eyes of God. 1 “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God” (1 Corinthians 4:10). There is no room for people worship regardless of the “anointing” that may be upon them. Hey, you are also “anointed”.
2. For the Corinthians, Paul in essence planted the first seed of the word of God when He brought the Gospel to them (See Acts 18). “And he (Paul) continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them” (Acts 18:11). Afterwards, Paul departed and went to Ephesus. Apollos then came to Corinth to teach the new Church. “And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus” (Acts 19:1). The statement by Paul makes sense in this context. 5 “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.” Vs.5-6
3. Does it then matter who is doing the planting or the watering? Not really. No one is more important in the Church of God. “So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building” vs. 5-9. Note that both the one planting and the one watering are one in purpose. The purpose is to establish and grow God’s kingdom in the lives of people. This knowledge takes away any boastful pride for any of us to take credit for what God is doing in other people’s lives. All we get to do is be obedient to what God has called us to do. Hey God’s fellow worker! Remember that you are at work with God. This will really change our attitudes regardless of what we do for living. As you do whatever you do, remember that God is your co-worker and He is watching and willing to help.
4. Our work for God is by a special grace of God. “According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it” vs.10. Apostle Paul as you know received a special grace to be first a child of God and his minister. The “worst of sinners” as he described himself. So are we. God has given us each a measure of his grace for the work at hand. What are you doing right now? – Raising and caring for infant children, doing some 9 to 5 job, or any other? Let’s keep in mind what God has given us grace for. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” Ephesians 2:8-10. Your work is not a surprise to God. God has already prepared it in advance before the world began. Let us be careful how we complain about whatever work we are doing because you could be praying against God’s will to change a job He had ordained you for.
5. So what are you and I building and on what foundation does it rest. There is only one sure foundation and that is the solid rock- Jesus Christ. If you are giving anyone less than Jesus Christ, you are building on the wrong foundation. Paul offers the Corinthians and us a serious warning in this passage. “But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire” vs. 10-15. What we build will be tested and rewarded. Note the things that would not burn – gold, silver and precious stones. We must watch out for building with wood, hay and straw. We must ask the Lord to reveal to us our interactions with people whether it is of the type of wood, hay or straw because those will only add temporary value to others lives.
6. We are collectively and individually the temple of God. Together, we make up a habitation for God and at the same time, He dwells in each of us. See the warning. “16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. 18 Let no one deceive himself”. Note that the first deception is self deception. I love this quote that I sometimes use as my email signature, “Integrity is telling myself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people.” – Spencer Johnson. We are not going to get a different result from what we plant and/or water. May we never lie to ourselves about what we are planting and building in our lives and the lives of people around us. Remember that if you are not strategically planting and watering, you are allowing weeds to grow in the lives of people around you. Weed chokes life and good seeds. Let’s be strategy and intentional about planting and watering. Also the seriousness of the warning – “God will destroy him” that cause disunity and discord in the body of Christ.
Apostle Paul states who the wise builder is? The wise is the one building according to God’s plan and building on the foundation of Jesus Christ. You see, most people rarely come to the truth of who they are and acknowledge it. Like my son Jonathan, most people are afraid but have refused to acknowledge it and to accept the remedy. “I need God”. Are you afraid today? You need God. The people around us are afraid and they need God. Can God count on us to introduce them to Himself? That is the planting process. God takes over once we introduce people to the saving Grace of Jesus Christ. God is the one responsible for the increase and growth. What are you planting, watering or building? Let’s build for God. Is there someone you can water today through your prayers and outreach of love and expression of kind words of encouragement? If you do not remember any, please pray for me. “I am afraid. I need God”.
Lord, help me to know that without you, I can do absolutely nothing. With you, the little you have placed in my hands would cause a life to grow in relationship with you. Lord, help me to build only on your foundation. Lord, help me to build that which would not be burnt up by fire because in light of eternity, it is worth nothing. Amen
I was delighted last night by the confession of my son, Jonathan who is now five and half years old. Jonathan said, “Daddy, I am afraid. I need God”. The context is that it was bed time and I had turned off the light. After his confessional, he gets up and proceeds to get the children’s bible from the bookshelf in his room and then asks me to read for him. Now, this was a very special moment because I was surprised and touched by the depth of his understanding of the concept of God. I was also surprised because as a parent you never know what your children are learning and taking in. I was delighted because it means that somehow, my wife and I must have planted and watered some seeds that God has caused to grow in Jonathan. To God be the glory.
We are all planting and watering in the course of life. The question is what seed are we planting and watering. In our study for today, we learn about planting and watering from the lives of Apostle Paul and Apollos. Paul wrote, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:6). In the context of the divisions in the Corinthian Church, we are challenged as followers of Christ to mind how we build. Are you planting or watering for God? It does not really matter which you are doing but that you and I are planting or watering or doing both at the same time. Are you afraid today? Do you need God?
1 Corinthians 3
1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”;[a] 20 and again, “The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”[b] 21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. 23 And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Apostle Paul led by the Holy Spirit, lays out the process of the work of God using agricultural metaphors – planting and watering. This is so fitting in the context of the contentions and divisions in the Corinthian Church where people were taking sides with personality types – Paul or Apollos. Are you so in love with any particular minister of God? Then read on and put them where they belong in the eyes of God. 1 “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God” (1 Corinthians 4:10). There is no room for people worship regardless of the “anointing” that may be upon them. Hey, you are also “anointed”.
2. For the Corinthians, Paul in essence planted the first seed of the word of God when He brought the Gospel to them (See Acts 18). “And he (Paul) continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them” (Acts 18:11). Afterwards, Paul departed and went to Ephesus. Apollos then came to Corinth to teach the new Church. “And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus” (Acts 19:1). The statement by Paul makes sense in this context. 5 “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.” Vs.5-6
3. Does it then matter who is doing the planting or the watering? Not really. No one is more important in the Church of God. “So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building” vs. 5-9. Note that both the one planting and the one watering are one in purpose. The purpose is to establish and grow God’s kingdom in the lives of people. This knowledge takes away any boastful pride for any of us to take credit for what God is doing in other people’s lives. All we get to do is be obedient to what God has called us to do. Hey God’s fellow worker! Remember that you are at work with God. This will really change our attitudes regardless of what we do for living. As you do whatever you do, remember that God is your co-worker and He is watching and willing to help.
4. Our work for God is by a special grace of God. “According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it” vs.10. Apostle Paul as you know received a special grace to be first a child of God and his minister. The “worst of sinners” as he described himself. So are we. God has given us each a measure of his grace for the work at hand. What are you doing right now? – Raising and caring for infant children, doing some 9 to 5 job, or any other? Let’s keep in mind what God has given us grace for. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” Ephesians 2:8-10. Your work is not a surprise to God. God has already prepared it in advance before the world began. Let us be careful how we complain about whatever work we are doing because you could be praying against God’s will to change a job He had ordained you for.
5. So what are you and I building and on what foundation does it rest. There is only one sure foundation and that is the solid rock- Jesus Christ. If you are giving anyone less than Jesus Christ, you are building on the wrong foundation. Paul offers the Corinthians and us a serious warning in this passage. “But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire” vs. 10-15. What we build will be tested and rewarded. Note the things that would not burn – gold, silver and precious stones. We must watch out for building with wood, hay and straw. We must ask the Lord to reveal to us our interactions with people whether it is of the type of wood, hay or straw because those will only add temporary value to others lives.
6. We are collectively and individually the temple of God. Together, we make up a habitation for God and at the same time, He dwells in each of us. See the warning. “16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. 18 Let no one deceive himself”. Note that the first deception is self deception. I love this quote that I sometimes use as my email signature, “Integrity is telling myself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people.” – Spencer Johnson. We are not going to get a different result from what we plant and/or water. May we never lie to ourselves about what we are planting and building in our lives and the lives of people around us. Remember that if you are not strategically planting and watering, you are allowing weeds to grow in the lives of people around you. Weed chokes life and good seeds. Let’s be strategy and intentional about planting and watering. Also the seriousness of the warning – “God will destroy him” that cause disunity and discord in the body of Christ.
Apostle Paul states who the wise builder is? The wise is the one building according to God’s plan and building on the foundation of Jesus Christ. You see, most people rarely come to the truth of who they are and acknowledge it. Like my son Jonathan, most people are afraid but have refused to acknowledge it and to accept the remedy. “I need God”. Are you afraid today? You need God. The people around us are afraid and they need God. Can God count on us to introduce them to Himself? That is the planting process. God takes over once we introduce people to the saving Grace of Jesus Christ. God is the one responsible for the increase and growth. What are you planting, watering or building? Let’s build for God. Is there someone you can water today through your prayers and outreach of love and expression of kind words of encouragement? If you do not remember any, please pray for me. “I am afraid. I need God”.
Lord, help me to know that without you, I can do absolutely nothing. With you, the little you have placed in my hands would cause a life to grow in relationship with you. Lord, help me to build only on your foundation. Lord, help me to build that which would not be burnt up by fire because in light of eternity, it is worth nothing. Amen
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