Planting & Watering

⁶ I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
-First Corinthians 3:6 (KJV)


I've written quite a lot recently on the topic of faith and works. Of how the works we do either prove our faith in Jesus, or our lack of faith in Him. On Tuesday's Talkin' Scripture broadcast, we were talking about this topic. After the broadcast, I had a chat with a listener about how we plant the seeds, but it is up to God for the outcome. Then, it hit me. What is my motive for the works I do? I encourage you to explore that question. Why do you do what you do for the Lord? Is it truly out of faith and love for Jesus that you do the things He has called you to do?


The church at Corinth was a church that suffered from being immature. Verse 3 says, "For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?" There was envy, divisions and strife in the church. Those are some of the marks of the world, not what should be found in the church. In verses 4-5, Paul gives examples of the problems in the church. " For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? ⁵ Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?" The people of this church seemed to put Paul and Apollos on a pedestal, each one had followers. Instead, Paul pointed out that they, Paul and Apollos, were merely doing what God had called them to do. The church seemed to put more faith in the messenger than the message. Paul says in verses 6-8, "⁶ I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. ⁷ So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. ⁸ Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour." Paul teaches them that the one who plants the seeds and the one that waters the seeds are one, they are unified in their mission to do what God has called them to do. Verse 8 says, "Now he that planteh and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour." The question we must ask ourselves is this: Are we seeking our reward from God, or seeking praise from men? Think About It.