Planting and Watering-Both Have a Reward

This Scripture reminds me of a story about R.C. Sproul if I remember correctly. 

1 Corinthians 3:5-8(NKJV)

5Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 

6I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 

7So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 

8Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

Dr. Sproul is a theologian, author, and minister.  He once told the story of being on a plane early in his career where he was seated next to a guy on a three hour flight.  Dr. Sproul proceeded to beat the guy about the head with his Bible (figuratively speaking) for those three hours.  And he couldn't figure out why the guy wouldn't accept Jesus.

It was after that when God smacked Dr. Sproul upside the head with a Bible and said "Dude, knock it off.  While you are part of my plan you ain't the whole plan!"

I think the above Scripture is a great example of what God was telling Dr. Sproul.  Our job is to plant and water.  In some case we will be planting the seed and others will do the watering.  Sometimes it will be the other way around.  Some of us will be better at one thing than the other but that doesn't relieve us of our obligation to do both.

Did I say obligation?  Yep.  This isn't one of those chip in and help if you want to kind of things.  How well we plant and water is part of what determines how comfortable we are in eternity.

1 Corinthians 3:10-15(NKJV)

10According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 

11For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 

12Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 

13each 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. 

14If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 

15If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

One of the things that surprised me when I started writing this blog is the number of places in the Bible that tell us that all are saved by grace so all who accept Jesus get into heaven but once in heaven we will get different rewards based on the work that we did on behalf of God's Kingdom.  I used to think that everyone in heaven would be treated equally but that is Scripturally not correct.

Want proof?  Remember when the mother asked Jesus if her son's could sit on God's right and left (if I remember correctly)?  What did Jesus say?  Did he say no because everyone will be treated equally?  No Jesus didn't say that.  Jesus told the mother He couldn't promise that because those honors were not His to give.  Now if Jesus admits that those honors exist in heave that clearly tells us that not all will be treated the same.  Some will be honored more than others.

 The Scripture above is another example of what I am talking about.
 

Notice that it starts with a warning.  We are to take heed and evaluate how we serve God.  Are we building on the foundation of Christ?  Or are we building on a foundation other than Christ? 

Then it goes on to tell us that what we have built is going to be tested.  Another way to say that is judged by God.  If God finds what we have built acceptable, that is built on the foundation of Christ and helping to fulfill God's plan, then we will be rewarded. 

But look at the next line.  If God doesn't approve then the person who built it "will suffer loss".  Notice that God doesn't say "Nice try.  At least you gave it a good shot.  Just because you tried so hard I'm going to give you the same reward as the other guy."  Nope, God doesn't say that does He?  Verse 15 is very clear.  You will still be saved but you will suffer loss.  Your time in eternity isn't going to be the same as the guy who built what God approved of.

And again, who is held responsible for making the correct decisions?  You and I are.  Now do you want to make those decision's on your own and hope for the best?  Or would you rather have some good guidance.  How about guidance directly from God.  If He is the one you ultimately have to satisfy, wouldn't it make sense to ask Him what He would like you to do?

You can do that you know.  Go directly to God and ask.  He has even given us a helper so that we can hear directly from him.  That helper is called the Holy Spirit. And how do we get the Holy Spirit?  By accepting Jesus, God's son, as our personal Lord and Savior.  

That gives us the foundation of Jesus to build on and it gives us the Holy Spirit so that we can learn from God exactly what He wants us to do.  Would you like to have that?  Then just invite Jesus into your life.  Have a simple conversation with Jesus and ask Him to guide you.  "Dear Jesus…."

Now it is time to go plant and water in the ways that God is directing each and every one of us!