Day 44 : 1 Corinthians 3:6-8
Read 1 Corinthians 3:6-8
Helpful Background Information:
First, reread Mark 4:26-29; The Parable of the Growing Seed
Second, read 1 Corinthians 3:6-8
In 1 Corinthians 3, the Apostle Paul disapproves of the Corinthians’ view of Christian leadership. The people in that church had a habit of placing too much of the spotlight on their leaders. This reflected a lack of spiritual maturity in the church, and their desire to follow one leader over the other led to internal conflict in the church.
Hence, to rebuke the Corinthians in their exalting of leaders, Paul makes clear that he and Apollos are merely servants who planted and watered the seeds of the Gospel. Paul’s statement “Only God gives the growth” is crucial to understanding the spread of the Gospel. Human effort in spreading the gospel is futile unless God is causing the growth. The real work is done by God; Paul and Apollos are no more than instruments through whom he does his work.
→ Fun fact: In the Greek, when Paul says that he and Apollos “planted” and “watered”, the verbs are in the aorist tense, meaning that they are completed actions. However, when God “gave the growth”, that verb is in the imperfect tense, which indicates an action that started in the past but is still happening. Basically, Paul and Apollos finished their work in spreading the Gospel, but God’s work in providing growth continues!
Now, compare 1 Corinthians 3:6-8 to Mark 4:26-29. The Kingdom of God is compared to a seed that is scattered by a man. Notice how, though the seed is scattered by a man, the growth of the seed is independent of human activity.
Reflection Questions:
Reflecting on 1 Corinthians 3:6-8, how does Paul’s explanation of the growth of the Gospel explain the growth of the Kingdom of God in Mark 4:26-29?
In 1 Corinthians 3:6-8, Paul reminds us that the growth of the Gospel comes from God, not from human effort. How does this perspective change the way you view your role in sharing the Gospel?
In Paul's words in 1 Corinthians, we see that while humans can plant and water, God is the one who causes growth. How can you cultivate trust in God’s timing and work when you explain the Gospel, even when you don't see immediate results in the people you are reaching out to?
Although it is easy to think of God giving the growth as referring to our gospel proclamation to others, it is equally important that God is the one who gives the growth in our hearts. How have you seen God give growth in your life? How can you further rely on God for growth?