God's Fellow Workers

"Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labour. ⁹ For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building."

1 Corinthians 3:8-9

In a Bible study last night we briefly discussed the implications of being God's fellow workers, His field and building.  Those who plant and water are one, and it is the LORD who receives the increase.  The efforts we expend for the glory of our Saviour are fruitful only by His grace, and Jesus Christ deserves the credit even as the vine supplies nutrients and strength to the branches.

If a farmer is motivated to clear, plow, sow, water and reap the field he owns for a bountiful crop, God is far more active in working to see the peaceable fruit of righteousness produced in us by His grace.  A farmer works the field with a long-term plan in mind:  rotating crops, building and mending fences, ensuring there is a good water supply and is attentive day and night to ensure beasts are not destroying the future crop.  Delicate plants must be covered to protect them from frost; fruit trees and vines require netting to prevent birds from doing damage.  A farmer and his land form a partnership where both benefit, and the burden falls upon the farmer to cultivate with the future in mind.

How true this is concerning the relationship God has made with us through faith in Jesus Christ!  The significant difference between the believer's relationship with God is we are supernaturally empowered to produce spiritual fruit that endures.  Naturally because of sin we could only bear thorns and noxious weeds, our hearts filled with stones, dark woods that block sunlight, land filled with marshes and barren wastes.  Having been born again we now can produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit and the good seed of God's word begins to spring forth in a humble heart.  The living water of the Holy Spirit begins to flow through a soul yielded to Him, and stagnant ponds begin to be purified.

We are not a passive plot of land in this picture, for consider God's word through the prophet to His people in Hosea 10:12-13:  "Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness on you. ¹³ You have plowed wickedness; you have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, because you trusted in your own way, in the multitude of your mighty men."  Land cannot sow or reap itself, and the work God calls us to do is to yield to Him by faith and obedience.  A farmer sows with the expectation of reaping in season, and the work God does in our lives is with our future on earth and in heaven for eternity.  Jesus said in John 9:4, "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work."  During our earthly pilgrimage it is a season of God working in and through His people, and Jesus is faithful to labour for the glory of God and our good.

Paul compares Christians to being "God's building," and we are a building project God is keen to tackle--despite our reluctance.  Now that He has taken possession of us through the power of the Gospel, there are massive renovation plans God has to enact:  a new foundation has been laid and a new structure with quality materials has been erected.  This passage follows on from what Paul described previously in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15:  "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, ¹³ each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. ¹⁴ If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."  God has the set of drawings outlined in His word patterned after Jesus Christ, and praise the LORD the construction process is managed by God who is faithful to complete the work He has begun by grace.

How rewarding it is when we submit and cooperate with the work God does within us!  1 John 3:2-3 reveals, "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. ³ And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure."  Our efforts could never accomplish this work, but with God who works in us we are divinely enabled and empowered to work with Him to this glorious end.