Pastoral Ministry by Paul

Have you ever talked with someone about something and just assumed they knew what you were talking about? Probably. I suppose you wouldn’t know if you think they know what you’re saying. Hopefully, that’s not a ‘weekly’ experience for your congregation on Sundays! I was reading 1 Corinthians the other day and came across the below passage. It’s a great Scripture full of all kinds of good stuff. However, I stopped and began reading between the lines, specifically asking myself the question, “What can I learn about pastoral ministry from this excerpt?” I was mildly surprised with what I learned.

6I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. 10By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:6-11

Putting the passage in context, Paul was reprimanding the Corinthians for acting like babies (verses 1-2). Evidently, they argued a lot over who they should really be ‘following’, Paul or Apollos (verse 4). Paul was reminding the church to get their priorities straight and set their sights on Jesus Christ.

OK. So that’s the context. Now I’d like to pull out a few interesting facts (and raise a few questions) out of the content.

1. Paul acknowledges that man has an important part to play in the work of God (verse 6) In this case, planting and watering. If you were to take a guess, which part do you think YOU play in the ministry you help lead? Planting or watering?
2. The church body should not consider the planter or the waterer as the focal point of their attention or lives – but God alone (verse 7) Paul considered this attitude an immature one. Earlier in the passage he said that they could only be given milk, not solid food, because of their pettiness in these areas. Does your congregation spiritually rely on you as their pastor, or on God?
3. Only God can prosper the work of man (verse 7) In Isaiah 30:1 God warns, “‘Woe to the obstinate children,’ declares the LORD, ‘to those who carry out plans that are not mine.’”  It is quite possible to be planting and watering seeds, and staying quite content and busy while we are at it, but NOT see anything grow. Is God making things grow in your ministry?
4. The planter and waterer have unique roles and purposes in the church (verse 8) I suspect it would be easy for us leaders to fall prey to thinking that the role we serve is the most important or perhaps even the only role there is. I think it’s also possible that we leaders may try to take on both the role of planter AND waterer. Paul seems pretty adamant that they are unique functions. Are you making room in your ministry for differently gifted people to shine and fulfill their calling?
5. There are rewards associated with the work of the ministry (verse 8) Cool. We all like the idea of having rewards for our work. Of course, this passage also implies a judgement. In verse 14 Paul writes, “If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss, he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.” Umm. Can I just say, he’s talking about you and me here. Are you giving your all for the work of God or do you take your role for granted?
6. The work of the ministry is just that . . . work (verse 8) Paul states pretty simply that it’s work. Ministry is not a walk in the park. He called it “labor”. The thing is, many pastors have a choice whether or not they will actually ‘work’ or not. I know it’s not true for most, but I’ve come into contact with enough to know that ‘work’ for some pastors takes place Friday through Sunday and the rest of the week is counted as an extended sabbath. Do you serve your church body with integrity? Are they getting everything you have to give?
7. God is working alongside us (verse 9) How humbling to realize that, according to Paul, we are God’s fellow workers. I love that. It means God is on staff too. He’s working right alongside me. He’s not doing my job, He’s doing His job. I get to be part of what He’s doing by partnering with him and fulfilling the function He designed me to fulfill. Do you acknowledge, honor, and call on God as an integral part of your ministry each and every day?
8. God has included us in the building of his church (verse 9) Again, how humbling. The object of God’s attention in this passage is HIS field or HIS building. Paul is talking about the church right there; that’s the bride of Christ, His beloved. And God has invited US to participate in preparing His bride for her wedding day. Do you view your congregation through your own eyes, or the eyes of Christ each day.
9. We are to serve as experts in God’s work (verse 10) Paul described himself as an expert or wise builder. I suspect he considered Apollos in the same light. Experts don’t come cheap. Experts are the result of thousands of hours of learning and experience. Experts are rare. Most people stop at the Novice phase because it’s just too hard and too uncomfortable to press through to become an expert. Are you an expert in your role as a minister of the gospel? If not, why not?
10. The work of ministry MUST be taken seriously and carefully (verse 10) Be careful how you build! Watch your doctrine closely. Serve the church humbly. (Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”) Keep Christ central. This passage also says in verses 12-13, “If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is.” If Christ visited your office today and told you what you were building on his foundation with, what do you think He would say?