1 Corinthians 3:8

Scripture: 1 Cor. 3:8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.

Teaching: Continuing his farming metaphor from verses 5-7, in which Paul likened himself to the being the planter (founding the church in Corinth) and Apollos to being the waterer (preaching/discipling the church in Corinth) but God being the one who gives the growth, Paul says that the planter and the waterer “are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.” Paul is teaching that though each person has different roles in the Church, all are equal in their importance, a topic he will continue to teach on later in 1 Corinthians when it comes to spiritual gifts.

What’s more, Paul says that “each will receive his wages according to his labor,” or each will be rewarded for their service to the Lord. Jesus taught of rewards in heaven for service to the Lord in this life (Matt 5:11-12, 24:44-47; Luke 6:35, for example) and these do not conflict with the idea that we are saved by grace through faith. We serve the Lord in this life because of what He’s done for us, yes, but God is so good that He rewards us in heaven for such service. We are all gifted uniquely by the Lord, some to teach and preach, some to show hospitality, some to pray, and more. All are equally important to the Church, and how we steward our gifts and bring glory to God through them is what determines reward – not the visibility or magnitude of the gift itself. Paul is saying that he did his job as was given to him by the Lord and so did Apollos, and thus, both will be rewarded.

Takeaway: Sometimes we see great pastors and preachers doing big things for the Kingdom. What should our response be? Cheering them on, encouraging them, and praising the Lord for what He is doing through them. But what does that mean for us? Are any of us lesser than in the eyes of the Lord because we haven’t been given the gift of teaching or a huge platform from which to witness? No, for the Lord is the source of these gifts and it takes all of them to be the Church. Study the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30. The master gives different amounts to each servant; both the one who was given five talents and the one given two doubled their talents, one yielding ten the other four back to the master. But even though one received ten and the other four, both receive the same commendation, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” (Matt. 25:21, 23). This, along with other Scripture indicates to us that our task is to be faithful to what we are given by the Lord, not to be jealous or dejected by why we are not. Today, reflect on what the Lord has given you. Are you being faithful to Him with it?