(1 CO. 3:5-10)
translates verse 9 " Indeed , we are collaborators in the service of God ... " version Word of God for All means" We are partners working in the service of God ... " and Plain Language Version Bible translates" Apollo and I are servants of God ... " emphasizing the collaboration that God demands of us, is a collaboration of service.
Paul reminds us that Christian leadership is servant leadership. Unlike the secular leadership, which emphasizes the privileges that are at the head of the masses, the Christian leadership is characterized by service to others. This involves a sacrifice, a personal waiver and an unconditional surrender to erect the building of God. The Christian leader is a servant leader.
1.
The apostle Paul helps us to understand the nature and purpose of our collaboration - service to God through two metaphors.
The first is a breeding , a farm, an orchard (verses 7 - 9). Conveys the idea that this figure is that our service is to grow God's farm, his church. Verse 5 says that the purpose of Christian service is that people believe the message of salvation to be announced. Once the person is born again, emerges as a new plant in the growing field of God. This plant needs care and feeding. It is haunted by pests, birds, climate, etc. The work of the farmer is to take care of so you can grow and bear fruit in time. But even before the field had to be worked, cleaned and paid.
This illustrates very well the Christian service. We, as partners of God, clearing the land with our good witness to all. We fertilize and prepare the field with our daily prayer and devotional life. We must also sow the seeds by preaching the Gospel. We must also ensure the growth, teaching, discipling, and counseling to the believer.
The other image that uses the apostle is of a building (verse 9). But a construction , giving us the idea of \u200b\u200ba dynamic, growing, ever moving and expanding. In the field of applied psychology at the companies said that a company goes bankrupt when it ceases to grow. If any company achieved great commercial success and then stops, is destined for bankruptcy. But always looking to expand, seeking new markets, new services and products to offer, then keep it alive.
The idea of \u200b\u200bPaul, the church as a building under construction, quite similar. The church should be growing. In quantitative growth, adding more souls to the ranks of Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:19), and qualitatively, helping believers to grow in the knowledge of God (Eph. 4: 12).
2.
reading the third chapter of the Epistle to the Corinthians, highlights the idea that the work is God. Repeatedly found the grammatical construction "of God." This calls us to consider that as partners, we are responsible stewards of God's work and as such, we serve and act with an attitude of detachment and urgency. By not owning the work, but only stewards, we are obliged to account to the Lord of the work, our work is monitored and depending on the diligence with which we act, we will be rewarded.
A second idea that highlights the biblical text is that it is God who assigns service . Verse 5 tells us that the service is granted by God. In practice this means that all activities, ministries, work plans and projects that we undertake must be done under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We should refrain from guide and make decisions according to our own desires or intentions. We can not rely on them as they are, as James says, the origin of sin and death (James 1: 14, 15).
Paul also says that the results are given by God . Verses 6 and 7 tell us that it is God who gives the increase, through the work of its employees. This has two practical implications. On the one hand we must trust in God's time and wait for His time to see the results of our work. In some cases, wait a long time to see results our service.
The other practical implication is that we must use the spiritual resources of God and not the terrestrial only. Human knowledge is useful to diversify and enhance our service, but when it plays the primary and is the only source which nourishes our collaboration, then we are spending our ministry to failure.
3. CONTRIBUTORS
Finally, the apostle to the Gentiles gives us three ideas about what should be and do the contributors - servants of God.
First contributors are all level (verse 8). There is a hierarchy of cooperating. Do not confuse the diversity of ministries. Although different, all have the same importance before God and are equally useful and necessary.
also tells us that employees will be rewarded according to their own work (verse 8). Depending on the quality of their service, the employee will be rewarded. And while this has a possible future compliance eternity, it is also true that is patented in the here and now. The diligent and devoted partner can enjoy and feel satisfied to see the fruits of their investment and hard work, to see lives changed for the better, families restored and people living an abundant life.
There is no better reward for the partner of God, be used by God to bless their children, even though his own imperfection and wickedness.
It follows that the employee - servant must be careful how he builds (verse 10). Our work must be grounded on the foundation of Jesus Christ. We must also act with great care, self and self-inspecting them watching us and that our work will be tested by God. As recently is giving much emphasis on excellence and quality of work in the secular world, our Christian ministry would not necessarily divorced from such standards of excellence and good (Rom. 12:11).
CONCLUSION:
Every Christian is called by God to work in his field, cultivating. God does not exclude anyone from the service is a demand for everyone. The service also must be characterized by diligence, fraternity and dependence on God.
The effective partner must always bear in mind what the purpose of their service. Always keep in mind that a steward is accountable and will be evaluated for their work. Also remember that your service must be done with love and depending on the spiritual resources given by God for its fulfillment.
Christian service preparation and investment demand, but also provides beautiful view satisfaction by allowing victorious lives and know that God uses to accomplish His eternal and holy purposes.
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