After years of discipling Caleb by himself, Mark was dismayed to find out that a church leader had assigned another mentor to the young man. The leader remarked, “Finally, Caleb has a mentor.”
What did they think I was doing all these years? Mark wondered. Though he hadn’t expected any reward or recognition, he couldn’t help feeling hurt.
Years later, however, Caleb told Mark that he’d entered Caleb’s life just when he most needed spiritual guidance. On hearing these encouraging words, Mark came to this realisation: God gives believers in Jesus specific gifts to serve Him differently—without comparing with others—and He oversees the timing.
In 1 Corinthians 12:4-31, Paul stresses the value of members of the body of Christ, the church, having different gifts, roles and assignments. And in chapter 3, he reminds us of the one who’s the ultimate source of the results: “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow” (v. 6).
Each of us may be given a unique season and opportunity to do God’s work. Unlike people, God doesn’t compare our work, for He loves us as individuals. May we keep our eyes and hearts focused on doing our best in the season that God has given us—relying completely on His strength and empowerment—and not worry about what others achieve in their own way and time.
By Leslie Koh
REFLECT & PRAY
What opportunities has God given you to use the gifts He’s provided for you? How can you best use these in this time and season?
Gift-giving God, please help me to focus on the work You’ve given me to do.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul offers a way of seeing ministry that avoids two dangers: overemphasizing and aligning with individual leaders or, on the opposite side, not recognizing the value of the service of others. Paul describes the community of believers in Jesus as a field (vv. 6-9) and a building under construction (vv. 9-14). In both metaphors, leaders are merely humble labourers called by God to specific tasks (vv. 5-8 ). Only He gets the credit; only God “[makes] it grow” (v. 6).
Although the focus in 1 Corinthians 3 is on specific leaders with designated authority roles in the community rather than on individual believers, the language of “each” being rewarded (v. 8) anticipates chapter 12, where Paul explains that God gifts “each one” in Christ’s body through the Spirit (v. 7). Believers are called to respond to what God is doing in and around them—using their gifts to honour Him and bless others.
Monica La Rose
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