GOD’S HUSBANDRY

Now we come to the second picture in this chapter. It is that of a field in which work is taking place. In order for the field to become productive it must be planted and watered. If it is not planted then any watering will be in vain. Similarly, if the field is planted but not watered the seeds will not flourish. These two exercises, though quite different, are, nevertheless, one. And so are the men who do this work; one is equally important as the other. Paul had planted the spiritual field in Corinth, Acts 18. 1-18, and Apollos had watered the seed, vv. 24-28. But neither could be held responsible for the successful outcome of the crop. That was down to God and Him alone; only He could give the increase. This was God’s husbandry, His tilled field.

As far as the two servants were concerned, they realized that they depended on each other; that singly they could achieve little or nothing. In fellowship together they could certainly improve the prospects for a crop. But they were acutely aware of the fact that no matter how hard they worked in preparing the field, in sowing the seed, in diligently watering it, if God did not give the increase there would be nothing but disappointment and frustration to show for their labours. Without God, they were failures and even with God doing His divine work of giv­ing life to the seed they were merely servants and nothing more.

So, why were the Corinthians setting one servant above another? The servants did not encourage it. Indeed, they would be embarrassed because it demonstrated that those believers had no idea how the service of God worked. Paul and Apollos were conscious that without the Lord they could do nothing. In their service they were working as ‘one’; yet carnal saints would try to elevate their own particular favourite as better than the other. Paul is concerned, therefore, to show that all this was counterproductive and robbing God of His glory.

Today, we must not fall into the same trap. Servants must not compete for glory. That belongs to God and those that are spiri­tual will recognize that and exploit the opportunity to give the praise to Him and not to servants; furthermore, they will shun those who would claim God’s glory for themselves.