Sower, Waterer and Reaper -- the roles we might play...
For week two of the Month of Mission we concentrate on SOWING.This is all about starting new work: Planting new congregations or moving into new areas of ministry.
One of the many rewards as a spiritual leader is that you have the privilege of baptising infants and then the blessing of seeing them grow up in the church amongst God's family. The time arrives that you then confirm them in their faith. If you are in the same congregation for a number of years, you also have the privilege of baptising their children. This year every young person confirmed testified about their spiritual growth and the challenges that they are facing growing up in a world which does not recognise Christ as their Saviour. They spoke of the sense of not belonging because they had made a commitment to follow Jesus. Praise God and glory to Jesus that the seed that was sowed and watered grew by God's grace.
Paul is saying he planted the seed, Apollos watered it but God made it grow. It is miraculous to say the least that young people do stay committed to Christ and that they allow the Holy Spirit to work within them so that they can grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The humbling part for all of us is that neither the one that plants or waters is anything. We do what we have been called to do -- tell people about Jesus. We make a covenant with God to bring them up in a godly environment which is the sowing and the watering and then leave it up to God to do the rest. The parents and the congregation play a very important role in the sowing and watering as well. We are all God's co-workers in His service, God's field, God's building. God's grace and His grace alone spiritually grows us because we build on the foundation of Jesus Christ and we are told to build with care. Pastoral care for young and old is important and relevant to be participants with God in the sowing and the watering.
No money or any earthly treasure can buy salvation or guarantee spiritual growth. It is only when we build on the foundation that is provided -- Jesus Christ our Lord -- that we can be assured of eternal salvation and know that our sowing and watering will be seen for what it is.
Yes, we will receive a reward however the biggest reward for us is to be in the presence and glory of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
| I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God's service; you are God's field, God's building. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved---even though only as one escaping through the flames. (1Corinthians3:6-15) |
Rev Natalie Angela Barnard. Mother and Mother-in-law, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, friend. Minister St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Cape Town. Moderator Presbytery Western Cape.
