For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings? 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.
Paul pulls out both a challenge and an analogy in this section of I Corinthians 3. The challenge is for the Corinthians to wake up and quit playing petty games with the gospel. Picking sides, pointing fingers, and other tactics are not good for the unity of the church. Our stand should be on Jesus Christ and God’s truth. But when we add personal preferences to God‘s word, we do a disservice to many who are seeking the truth.
Paul uses the analogy of a field of crops to explain to the Corinthians that what really matters in the equation … is God. One farmer might plant, another might water, but God ultimately causes the sun to shine and the clouds to rain and the whole process to work so that a crop is yielded.
He explains that he and Apollo are both servants of the most high God. It was their opportunity to work under his authority. And it is also important to note that it is God who does the majority of the work.
It’s like Paul and Apollos are the farmers and the Corinthians are the field they gain a harvest from. Or Paul and Apollos are like master craftsmen and the Corinthian Church is the building.
How important do I see myself in the grand scheme of God’s work? Am I willing to give him the credit?
Lord, thank you for this passage that clearly articulates that all of us are just servants under your command. We don’t need to take credit for the work you do. And it’s a pleasure to serve alongside you. We’re not to idolize one person on this earth. Instead, we’re supposed to put our focus on you.
