Planting the Lord’ s Church in Cape Girardeau, Missouri
“You are God’s field”
(1 Corinthians 3:9)
What a tremendous thought to envision the Lord our God laboring in a field, and to know that that field is His work among men. The apostle would say to the Corinthian church, “You are God’s field” ( 1 Corinthians 3:9). By extension of this same imagery, we may speak of the planting of the Lord’s church in our own community today.
1. We are standing in the very field and heritage of the early church. This would include the legacy of Paul, Sosthenes, and Apollos, for example (1 Cor. 1:1; 3:6).
2. While our human labor is certainly not of a meritorius kind (1 Cor. 3:7), still, it’ s said to have “wages” (1 Cor. 3:8).
3. Concerning these ” wages,” 1 Corinthians 3:8 relates that ” …each will receive is wages according to his labor.“
4. Notice the unity and camaraderie involved in doing church work: ” …He who plants and he who waters are one” (1 Cor. 3:8).
5. Comprehend, also, that God is interested in church ” growth” ( 1 Cor. 3:7).
6. In fact, God is the supreme giver of church growth (1 Cor. 3:6,7).
Yes, we will come rejoicing bringing in the sheaves. Be assured, God does know of your labors, and he will never forget every little thing you do in his name. You are God’s field! And, may you do with your acre what he expects; nothing more and nothing less.
-Robert M. Housby