"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. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow." I Corinthians 3:5-6We all have a part in this co-laboring with God. That's a good truth to remember. I just have a part. One part. And the task in not complete without my part. Nor is it complete with my part, if others aren't doing theirs. Yet despite all our collective labours, the most vital, life giving part comes from the Lord Himself. We are simply preparing the conditions. God is beginning the growth, the life.
I can loose sight of that at times. I take my part too seriously. Forget that others are part of the process. And miserably fail when I don't give God space to do His part - the most needed part.
Recently I have received some very positive reports of how God is bringing the life & growth to ministries or "fields" in Nitra & here in Bratislava that we have had a part in. On one hand I'm rejoicing. It's cool to see God move and fulfill past visions He has given. On the other hand, even though I can now see the fruit, I'm a bit bummed out. Why? I can see results of plowing the hard soil, others have come along and watered it, God brought growth, and now it's time to eat of the fruit - and I'm not at the table anymore. We have moved on to new "fields" and "building" projects (v9).
I'm simply trying to figure out how to be content in my one part. For the most part it has consisted of doing some hard ploughing of tough soil. I guess I just need to keep it all in God's wide perspective - "So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes all things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his labour." (v7-8)
We are just preparing hearts for God's life to take root and grow. Nothing more, nothing less. And like John the Baptist who had a similar mission - "I must decrees, that He might increase." (John 3:30)
