Each of us have been given a specific role in our work. For some of us, it’s clearly defined. For others, it seems to change every day. But we each have our gifts and abilities that we bring to the job.
Some of us are really good at what we do. Our impact is real. Maybe even visible. And it’s human nature to be proud of our accomplishments. We may even be tempted to make sure our accomplishments are known. To make sure…we get the credit. Why? We have ego’s. We have house payments. We have goals and aspirations.
But our friend Paul, gives us a great visual image of how that needs to look if we are focused on our Relationship with God at work. He encourages us to plant. He encourages us to water. But he is very clear about who makes things grow!
I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 1 Corinthians 3:6-8
In our self-centered world, it’s hard to do our jobs with excellence, then give God all the glory. If we are to “succeed”, we need some of that glory. And indeed, this story tells us that we will be rewarded! That reward may not be what we expect it to be, but we will be rewarded nonetheless!
Let’s PLANT. Let’s WATER. And let’s let God GROW.
