"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow." 1Cor 3:6,7So let not ministers of the gospel, or anyone else, attribute such growth purely to their own efforts, or take credit for what God has accomplished. Nor should we give too much credit to "spiritual leaders", which often results in divisiveness in the Christian community, which is the context of Paul's statement in 1Corinthians 3.
But another application is that it doesn't really take much effort to experience fruitfulness. Jesus can take our five loaves and two fish and multiply them to feed thousands. Let this be a reminder to those claiming not to have much time available for ministry. Just do a little and see the results. Once you've eaten of the first harvest, you'll be more experienced and motivated to do more.
Rap| This is what the kingdom is like
A man scattered seed. Then day and night Whether he sleeps or wakes the seeds sprout and grow How does this happen? He doesn't know All by itself grain is produced But how that can be he can't deduce. It grows to a stalk, then head and kernel All by itself by something internal As soon as the grain is ripe he reaps Though much of the work had been done while he sleeps So lets not take credit for more than our share For God does most of the work. That is clear. But also this means there's not much that you need God causes growth if you just plant the seed |