Today we are reading from 1 Corinthians 3: 5-9:

5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each. 9 For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.

Today we are continuing in 1 Corinthians, and we see the same problem here that we have seen all throughout the letter so far. Divisions, and right now, Paul is focusing on the divisions based off who their favorite preacher was.  

What Paul wants the people to understand is this, no matter who like, you who prefer, what style or content is the best, that is beside the point. What matters is that God is at work and God is moving. Paul does his part.  Apollos does part. But, they are both God’s servants, working together, working for the same purpose.  

Everyone does their part to build the kingdom.  We are going to see this coming theme throughout 1 Corinthians.  Right now Paul is focusing on division based off who their favorite preachers are.  Later it will be over spiritual gifts. This church seems to be more focused on their differences and the things that separate them than they are in the unity they have in their mission. 

So Paul says, it doesn’t matter who your favorite preacher is – build the kingdom. 

Later he will say, it doesn’t matter what your spiritual gift is – love. 

Paul knows it is our nature to get bogged down in the earthly things like this, instead of focusing on the heavenly goal of building the kingdom. God gives the growth.  Not Paul. Not Apollos.  Not me.  Not any other preacher.  

It is HIS kingdom.  Let’s work towards building His kingdom, not our kingdom.  Let’s focus on what He has called to do and who He has called us to be.  His workmanship, for His glory.  

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