I was recently sat in a traffic jam for 2 hours in Africa, the very nice car I was sat in was with very nice Pastors. But as I looked out of the window we had stopped by an outside garden centre (not like those in the west!) and a man with no shoes and no staff uniform was walking up and down watering the plants that he had no doubt grown. It was a menial task by a menial labourer whose reward would come in the future. As I looked I realised that there was not a lot of difference between the man watering and me and my friends in the car and I thought of these verses:-
“The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labour. For we are fellow workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:8-9
Paul in addressing the followers of man, including himself, says they were planters and waterers whose payment will come later. That’s all they are.
Man makes the celebrities and celebrities then enjoy being them and yet they are only planters and waterers. Church growth didn’t come about because of who they were but because they co-partnered with God. It is God’s work who owns the field (He also owns the building, of which he will speak of in the next verses).
Within the life of your church there are many planters and waterers and they are not only behind the pulpits. Children’s workers, welcome team members, intercessors, hospitality, the list can go on and on and even to include those who have been sent as missionaries to the far places of the world, they are all of shared value, they are all equally important, they are co-workers with God. Hierarchy does not exist.
Whatever you are doing for God is really important. You might say but what I do is just pray, there’s nothing more important than that. I just clean the church, there’s nothing more important than that. I don’t need to keep going!
Whatever you are doing for God is unique but is united with all the other unique roles.
Whatever you are doing for God is not some competition but a collaboration in the mission of God.
Whatever you are doing for God should not elevate you but celebrate HIM!
So value others whoever and whatever they do and no matter how big their field is. That small field is actually the same as the big field across town, they are connected fields, belonging to the same owner.
It is always God’s agenda, God’s vision, God’s mission, God’s ….. etc. So stop with the celebrity accolades and acknowledge more of the planters and waterers.
Missions Paul 