Only God // 1 Corinthians 3:7

Today’s verse speaks to the work of God in the church as Paul emphatically stated that “only God can make things grow.” There were some in the church at Corinth who were trying to derive status from whichever apostle helped them find the love of God in Jesus. Paul was stating that all of us have a role in God’s Kingdom, but the Lord is the only one who can bring the growth. All too often in churches today people look to the pastor as the one to grow the church. This does not absolve clergy from responsibility, but that is primarily about ensuring the seeds are planted and mechanisms in place to see those seeds are watered and cultivated; still, only God can cause the seed to grow. Think of the old idiom that you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink. So, what do you need to do to help plant a seed? What else do you need to do to help others cultivate the seeds already planted? Then, focus on prayer, worship, study, service, and fellowship with other believers so you can be aware of God’s growth work in your life…after all, only God can bring growth.