Planting Seeds

1 Corinthians 3:6-9

6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

This is one of my favorite scriptures and recently I started seeing it from a different perspective. The scripture basically states that we are to plant seeds and then let the holy Spirit take over and to lead by a good example.

In summary, in this verse, the Apostle Paul uses vivid imagery to convey a fundamental spiritual truth about growth in the Christian faith. Paul mentions two key figures: himself and Apollos. Paul describes his role in planting the seeds of faith, and Apollos is recognized for his role in nurturing those seeds through teaching and guidance. Yet, despite their hard work, it is God who ultimately brings about the spiritual growth. This truth is a powerful reminder for us in our Christian life and ministry; while human efforts are valuable, they are not the source of success. The actual increase, or growth in understanding and belief, comes solely from God.

This leads us to reflect on the efforts we put into our spiritual journey or our involvement in ministry. We might take active roles—inviting a friend to church, sharing a word of encouragement, or teaching a lesson—but we must remember that true transformation in hearts and lives cannot be achieved merely by human action. It happens through divine intervention. God is the one who touches hearts and changes lives, and this serves as a source of comfort and hope. We do our part, but ultimately, it is God who brings the fruit.

As we break down this verse, it’s essential to recognize that Paul’s writings in 1 Corinthians address division within the church at Corinth. The believers were aligning themselves with different leaders like Paul or Apollos, boasting about their allegiance. By stating that he planted and Apollos watered, Paul redirects their focus from human leaders to the divine source of their faith, which is God.

Planting requires a significant amount of faith. When we plant seeds, we cannot see the immediate outcome. This aspect reflects our Christian life when we share our faith or encourage others. We may not see immediate results, but our faithfulness in planting these seeds is a crucial step in God’s plan. Just as a farmer tends to a garden, we must tend to our spiritual responsibilities patiently.

Then, Apollos watered, which is equally important. Nurturing represents the ongoing teaching and encouragement within the community of faith. The watering signifies the establishment and strengthening of what Paul had already initiated. Both roles are vital, but the emphasis remains on God, who gives growth—or the increase. This reminds us that whether we are sharing the initial message of faith or supporting and encouraging others in their spiritual journey, it is ultimately God who brings the results.

However, it recently came to me that this can also be a way to address wrongdoing, hatred and cruelty which is so prevalent in our world today. I wrote an article about righteous judgment yesterday and to expand on that, scripture teaches us to, yes, address a wrongdoing, but plant the seed and explain why something is wrong and then walk away and let the Holy Spirit take over. We are not to engage and we're not to debate. The need to debate is purely ego driven. If you are truly sharing God's word there is no debate. We are to walk away and let the Holy Spirit take over. Too often we let ourselves be provoked by ignorance and hatred and we try to argue it away. This scripture clearly says not to argue it away. This is the opportunity to share God's love, plant the seed, live a good life and walk away. We're not to engage or debate. Human ego is very powerful and both ourselves and the person we are trying to share the word with will easily get defensive. That's why it is important to plant the seed, lead by good example, and walk away and let God take over. And most importantly to do the teaching with love and kindness and compassion. But do not engage.