GOD GIVES THE GROWTH  |   By Tyler Blanchard

Humans love getting credit for what we do. When my boss tells me I am doing a good job, it feels great. It encourages me to be an even better worker. But what if my boss said, “it doesn’t matter what you do. As long as I do my job, you’re fine”? That would come off as rude, and I probably wouldn’t work very hard. What is the point of working hard and being faithful if it has no effect on the outcome? It’s natural to think that we must have more of an effect on the ultimate outcome than we do. Thinking this way motivates us to do our best, lest God doesn’t get what he wants!

 

This is a common objection to the Calvinism. “If God predestines all to salvation or damnation, why evangelize?”, and, “Why pray? Why read our bibles? Why discipline our children to follow the Lord?” I have even heard, “If God is responsible for all, I’m responsible for nothing.” But these concerns beg a more important question. Yes, of course God requires us to be faithful and work hard to advance the gospel– no one is denying this. But who is actually completing this work? Who gave your children the grace of being raised in a faithful home? Who reveals the truth of scripture to you when you read it? Who hears your prayers? While giving the Gospel to people, who does the work of convicting their hearts to repent and turn to Christ? 

 

In First Corinthians 3, Paul gives us an answer. He says in verse 6, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” The Corinthians seemed to hold to the idea that their allegiance should be with the people who baptized them (and not with the God whom they received). Paul goes on to say that, “neither he who plants, nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” Ligonier’s Reformation Study Bible concludes that, “God alone is responsible for the success of ministry. For this reason, it is folly to boast in human ministers.” 

 

The foundation of many theological systems is that we are free. The foundation of reformed (biblical) theology is that God is free. The Westminster Confession of Faith says, “God, from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass.” (WCF 3:1) So then, why do anything? Because, Christian, you are part of what God has ordained. If you are a faithful servant of the Lord, he has set you apart for that purpose. Rejoice in the fact that God allows you to be his “fellow worker” (verse 9).

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REFLECT

• When Paul said that he addressed the Corinthians as, “people of the flesh” (verse 1), did he mean to say that the Corinthians weren’t Christians?

• What does, “You are God’s field, God’s building” (verse 9) mean?