1 Corinthians 3:8-11 “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
There is unity in the Spirit (Eph 4:1-6) that surpasses anything mankind could ever accomplish on his own. It is in our nature to want to stand out and be recognized as a leader; to be esteemed as someone worthy of honor. School, sports, and work environments all teach us to desire to excel for our own sakes. We desire to be valued above our peers. Unfortunately, this attitude can invade even ministers of the gospel and the church.
Paul addressed the fact that if he wanted to boast of himself, as a man he had many accomplishments to his credit (Php 4:3-7). Further, the scriptures tell us that Paul did miracles that are never mentioned in connection with Apollos or many of the other apostles. Paul could have encouraged the division that existed among the Corinthian brethren by simply taking the attitude that there would have been nothing for Apollos to water if Paul had not planted.
It is with humble hearts that we must testify that we who serve Christ our Lord are all one. We have different gifts and men, in their folly, may ascribe more honor to one gift than another. If we believe God, then we must know that all good and perfect (complete) gifts come from Him. The gift of the foot is not less than the gift of the eye. While the can claim that the body cannot see where to go without the eye, the foot can assert that no matter how much the eye sees the body cannot get there without the foot.
The overriding principle is that both the eye and the foot (and all other gifts) come from God and are necessary for the body. In this all are one, and each man (gift) receives the reward due for that field of labor. While laboring together as brothers and sisters in Christ is a wonderful blessing, how marvelous should it be to us to understand that we are laborers together with God! We are His field to tend and increase as He sees fit. We are His spiritual house built up together as lively (quickened) stones (1Pe 2:5).
Have we behaved ourselves wisely in our labor? Are we considered to be master builders? Has it been our happy lot to proclaim Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, crucified on a cross, and raised from the dead, as our foundation? Do we daily acknowledge that if we seem to have been as a wise master builder it is only because God has gifted us with His grace to do so?
God has laid the foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ. In proclaiming this holy truth, we are blessed by God to lay the foundation for the faith He gives unto His saints. As laborers in His kingdom, we are all one. We are not in competition with each other, but should seek to walk together in peace and love according to the direction of the Holy Spirit.
May we be thankful for our unity in the Spirit, and in that unity take heed to build our labor and our faith on this One Foundation that no man can lay!