When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” At that, Paul left the Council. Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.

–Parallel verses:
I Corinthians 3:5-9
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 has been 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 one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

When we follow God and care only about what he thinks of us, there is freedom to act without needing human recognition or approval. This is the freedom Paul had in his ministry. He made his case to the leaders and people of Athens, and they made their choices.

Success in sharing the gospel is centered around our faithfulness to be a pure vessel of the Spirit of God and to let him move through us. It is not dependent on other people’s decisions. God will use us in whatever role he chooses. We cannot get caught up in our plans for God, our rights, or demands for recognition in this life! We must be humble servants and be completely satisfied with serving him as he desires. Paul makes this clear in the parallel verses above. He and Apollos had different roles. And ultimately it is the Spirit of God who does the work in us and through us.

In what situations and/or with what types of people do I wrestle with gaining the approval of others? Have I conditioned my service work to God upon human recognition or approval? How can I grow in serving God with a pure heart and receiving from him the satisfaction of a job well done?

Lord, grow in me a heart that takes joy in serving you! Help me to focus on the joy in the eternal results of souls saved, needs met, and people encouraged in the faith.