By David ReayTuesday 15 Feb 2022LifeWords DevotionalsDevotionsReading Time: 2 minutes
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. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building. Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. (NLT)
If we reflect on our lives as followers of Jesus, we will recognise different people played different parts. Some may have introduced us to Jesus at a childhood level. Others taught us deeper biblical truths. Some nursed us through personal crises, others steered us back on track as we wandered in dangerous directions.
Our church communities can be like this. One person stimulates the church to reach out to the community and so expand. Another person encourages the church to learn more of the world of discipleship and so become deeper. There are people who will give us a push when we need it, and others who will simply put an arm around the shoulder as we struggle.
The immature Corinthian Christians tended to put too much stress on certain individuals. In this case, they fancied the more eloquent and culture Apollos over and above Paul. But they are reminded that while he and Apollos each played a part in their lives, God is the one who was behind it all, and he was the one and only foundation.
Be thankful for those who have helped you on the Christian way. Remember that what one person did was likely linked to what another person had already done. And remember above all that while many may have built good things into our lives, only one has laid the foundation.
Blessings,
David