Whose Results?

Whose Results? July 30 2020

“ Who The is Paul, and who is Apollo’s, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollo’s watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God God who gives the increase.”
1 Corinthians 3:5-7. NKJV

Any time we engage in ministry, an immediate temptation will arise that diverts our attention from God towards our outcomes. We hope that our prayers, our acts of love towards our neighbours, our proclamation of truth to the world around us, will not be in vain, but produce results. We cannot allow our desire of fruitful ministry to become our motivation. Our motivation must rest solely in our delight of the Lord. We have to have a zeal to make him known and a commitment to obey Him. While it is true in the above verse, Paul is reminding and rebuking the Corinthians for their mistaken focus, we too must probe our own hearts and we will know we need the same rebuke. Any act of ministry always brings the treat of self glory or self focus. We must kill off this type of thinking as soon as we can identify it. It is only God who gives the increase. I obey, I act, I speak, I pray, but God produces the effect. I really do not have a ministry, only God does. The sooner I begin to understand this and rest in it, the sooner ministry ceases to be a burden because I have nothing to lose or to gain. When I feel stress, it is most likely because I am staking my well being on results.. my work is to remain faithful and close to Him. The results are all up to God.

For the Corinthians to elevate and celebrate Paul or Apollo’s, as the center of their faith is ridiculous. These men were merely instruments of the Spirit. Just as Paul planted, and Apollo’s watered so too can every believer serve. Some may preach, some may assist others in their service, but it is God who gives the increase. He can and will use the gifts of every one of His servants for His purposes and His glory.

🙏Father God, help me not to be worried about results. It is not about that it is always all about You. Use me for Your service and help me to obey, act, speak, and pray. Thank you for the gifts you give me and allow me to use them for Your service. Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross for my sins and it’s in Your name that I pray.

Amen.