“After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow” (1 Corinthians 3:5-6 NLT).
Paul wrote to correct the Corinthian church for its disunity and favoritism. For some were claiming to be followers of Paul and others followers of a preacher named Apollos. Paul told them that neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.
Paul used this metaphor to illustrate that both he and Apollos were like farm hands that tended God’s garden, which is the church. Without stretching the metaphor too far, the seed might be seen as the gospel and the resulting plant as the salvation and growing faith of the believers in the church.
Understanding this illustration is encouraging to our witness. For often we are called to plant the gospel seed without seeing any response. And at other times we are called to water the young and tender plant of faith by encouraging a new believer. Yet at all times, we can bear witness knowing that we are coworkers with God and that He alone gives the increase. In this way, we can joyfully tend the Father’s field and trust the harvest to Him. Our part in witnessing is to share the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit and leave the results up to God.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for saving us and calling us to be witnesses of Your Son, Jesus. Strengthen us this day to join You in Your work. Whether planting or watering, empower us by Your Spirit to go and make disciples. In Jesus’ name, amen.