1 Corinthians 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
Ah Friends, what a powerful and very important statement is our Bit today. It speaks of a very delicate balance in the affairs of men, leaning towards selfishness and personal aggrandizement. It talks to how we see ourselves and how others see us; both in general life and the affairs of the church in particular. And here’s a quote that strikes a very important chord, in accordance with Bruh Paul’s statement to the church at Corinth. Solomon Eagle writes: ‘In our own secret hearts we each and all of us feel superior to the rest of the world, or, if not superior, at least "different" with a difference that is very precious and beautiful to us, and the base of all our pride and perseverance.’ That’s so true Friends! It’s a natural human reaction to think that we’re better than others, but the truth is that we’re not necessarily better, but we’re certainly different, because that’s how God made us. Though we may look physically alike, no two persons are exactly the same; none have the same fingerprints or DNA, and we all have varying mental capacity, physical and emotional strength, so we might be better in certain areas or fields, but not overall. And how does all of that relate to our Bit? Apparently there was bickering and arguments in the Corinthian church as to who was more important, Bruh Paul or Apollos? Some spoke in Bruh Paul’s favour while others esteemed Apollos. But like all such petty controversy, it was causing serious dysfunction and division within the young church. And sadly mih people, that same type of dysfunctional behaviour is still prevalent in our church today and causing enormous rifts therein. Choosing one person, or one side against another can’t help but cause dissension and division, and even worse, it’s fruitful soil for the workers of iniquity, giving them ample opportunity to plant evil seeds. And it all usually begins with somebody feeling superior or more important than someone else; the unveiling of a monumental sized ego, that’s out of sync and out of proportion to their mental capacity, else they’d realize that personal ego trips only lead to fruitless bickering and confusion with no winners, only losers. Bruh Paul would take a fit if he saw how divided the church is today; how the same thing he tried to prevent by suppressing his ego or whatever claims he had in the formation of the Gentile church to the greater glory of the whole, has blossomed forth and caused split after split. His is a very sensible approach as he asks: ‘Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man.’ (1 Cor.3:5) And that’s the truth Friends. Apollos and Bruh Paul were only ministers, servants of the Lord, working on His behalf, with whatever gifts he gave them. Remember in Romans 12 he talks about all of us having differing gifts, ‘prophesy, teaching, ministry etc.’ and that all should use their gifts to the best of their ability, and not encroach on or be jealous of another’s territory. (Rom.12:3-9) Thus he could rightly say: ‘I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.’ In terms of planting, we all know that Bruh Paul worked extremely hard and suffered much to lay the basic foundation of most of the Gentile churches. In Thessalonica, he caused a big uproar. ‘And Paul, as his manner (custom) was, went in unto them (synagogue of Jews), and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures. Opening and alleging (explaining and demonstrating), that Christ must needs have suffered and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.’ (Acts 17:2-3) Obviously the ruling Jews were unhappy with his teaching and ran him out of town. Then at Corinth, which was wealthy and immoral, he spent over a year there, working as a tentmaker. ‘And he reasoned in the synagogues every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.’ (Acts 18:4) So there’s no doubt he was very involved in building the church. But just like how seeds or plants need to be fed, nurtured or watered for them to grow gracefully, all new or young institutions bear the same requirements. Someone needs to water, prune, manure, control and guide the institution on a sensible path for it to grow strong and successful. Without that initial, strong, clear guidance no institution will ever amount to much. And since Bruh Paul seldom stayed in one place for very long, neither could he be in all the places at the same time, it obviously needed others to be the hands on nurturers and guides, which is what he’s saying of Apollos. The Good Book says thus of Apollos: ‘And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. The man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently (accurately) the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.’ (Acts 18:24-25) So although Apollos was eloquent and learned in the scriptures, he knew nothing of the Holy Spirit until two of Bruh Paul’s associates, Aquila and Priscilla heard him speaking in the synagogue and took him under their wings and explained the message of Christ to him more accurately. And he certainly blossomed under their tutelage. ‘For he mightily convinced (refuted) the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.’ (Acts 18:28) Oh mih people, therein lies the basis for success in anything, especially in our Christian faith: each one, teach one. None of us will get anywhere, will grow or mature if we hoard our knowledge. That knowledge of Christ taught to us by others, we ought to spread and teach to those we come into contact with. Now that brings us to the last part of Bruh Paul’s statement; ‘but God gave the increase.’ Yes Friends, whatever success we have in whatever endeavour, it always comes from God, for we of ourselves can do nothing. As Bruh Paul maintains: ‘So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.’ (1 Cor.3:7) And that my Friends is the kind of attitude, the type of mentality we need to fulfill our calling as true believers. We who plant and water are of no real magnitude because our efforts only bear fruit through God’s power. And we have the perfect example in Jesus, who, though He was God, on earth He made no account of Himself, but gave all the glory to His Father in heaven. And we’ll close with another of Bruh Paul’s telling comments on the subject. ‘Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.’ (2 Cor.3:5) And all God’s people said a resounding ‘Amen!’ Now Friends, let’s go out and put it into practice nuh. Much LOVE!…our ego portrays us as giants…but in the eyes of God…we’re mere Lilliputians…
Ah Friends, what a powerful and very important statement is our Bit today. It speaks of a very delicate balance in the affairs of men, leaning towards selfishness and personal aggrandizement. It talks to how we see ourselves and how others see us; both in general life and the affairs of the church in particular. And here’s a quote that strikes a very important chord, in accordance with Bruh Paul’s statement to the church at Corinth. Solomon Eagle writes: ‘In our own secret hearts we each and all of us feel superior to the rest of the world, or, if not superior, at least "different" with a difference that is very precious and beautiful to us, and the base of all our pride and perseverance.’ That’s so true Friends! It’s a natural human reaction to think that we’re better than others, but the truth is that we’re not necessarily better, but we’re certainly different, because that’s how God made us. Though we may look physically alike, no two persons are exactly the same; none have the same fingerprints or DNA, and we all have varying mental capacity, physical and emotional strength, so we might be better in certain areas or fields, but not overall. And how does all of that relate to our Bit? Apparently there was bickering and arguments in the Corinthian church as to who was more important, Bruh Paul or Apollos? Some spoke in Bruh Paul’s favour while others esteemed Apollos. But like all such petty controversy, it was causing serious dysfunction and division within the young church. And sadly mih people, that same type of dysfunctional behaviour is still prevalent in our church today and causing enormous rifts therein. Choosing one person, or one side against another can’t help but cause dissension and division, and even worse, it’s fruitful soil for the workers of iniquity, giving them ample opportunity to plant evil seeds. And it all usually begins with somebody feeling superior or more important than someone else; the unveiling of a monumental sized ego, that’s out of sync and out of proportion to their mental capacity, else they’d realize that personal ego trips only lead to fruitless bickering and confusion with no winners, only losers. Bruh Paul would take a fit if he saw how divided the church is today; how the same thing he tried to prevent by suppressing his ego or whatever claims he had in the formation of the Gentile church to the greater glory of the whole, has blossomed forth and caused split after split. His is a very sensible approach as he asks: ‘Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man.’ (1 Cor.3:5) And that’s the truth Friends. Apollos and Bruh Paul were only ministers, servants of the Lord, working on His behalf, with whatever gifts he gave them. Remember in Romans 12 he talks about all of us having differing gifts, ‘prophesy, teaching, ministry etc.’ and that all should use their gifts to the best of their ability, and not encroach on or be jealous of another’s territory. (Rom.12:3-9) Thus he could rightly say: ‘I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.’ In terms of planting, we all know that Bruh Paul worked extremely hard and suffered much to lay the basic foundation of most of the Gentile churches. In Thessalonica, he caused a big uproar. ‘And Paul, as his manner (custom) was, went in unto them (synagogue of Jews), and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures. Opening and alleging (explaining and demonstrating), that Christ must needs have suffered and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.’ (Acts 17:2-3) Obviously the ruling Jews were unhappy with his teaching and ran him out of town. Then at Corinth, which was wealthy and immoral, he spent over a year there, working as a tentmaker. ‘And he reasoned in the synagogues every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.’ (Acts 18:4) So there’s no doubt he was very involved in building the church. But just like how seeds or plants need to be fed, nurtured or watered for them to grow gracefully, all new or young institutions bear the same requirements. Someone needs to water, prune, manure, control and guide the institution on a sensible path for it to grow strong and successful. Without that initial, strong, clear guidance no institution will ever amount to much. And since Bruh Paul seldom stayed in one place for very long, neither could he be in all the places at the same time, it obviously needed others to be the hands on nurturers and guides, which is what he’s saying of Apollos. The Good Book says thus of Apollos: ‘And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. The man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently (accurately) the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.’ (Acts 18:24-25) So although Apollos was eloquent and learned in the scriptures, he knew nothing of the Holy Spirit until two of Bruh Paul’s associates, Aquila and Priscilla heard him speaking in the synagogue and took him under their wings and explained the message of Christ to him more accurately. And he certainly blossomed under their tutelage. ‘For he mightily convinced (refuted) the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.’ (Acts 18:28) Oh mih people, therein lies the basis for success in anything, especially in our Christian faith: each one, teach one. None of us will get anywhere, will grow or mature if we hoard our knowledge. That knowledge of Christ taught to us by others, we ought to spread and teach to those we come into contact with. Now that brings us to the last part of Bruh Paul’s statement; ‘but God gave the increase.’ Yes Friends, whatever success we have in whatever endeavour, it always comes from God, for we of ourselves can do nothing. As Bruh Paul maintains: ‘So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.’ (1 Cor.3:7) And that my Friends is the kind of attitude, the type of mentality we need to fulfill our calling as true believers. We who plant and water are of no real magnitude because our efforts only bear fruit through God’s power. And we have the perfect example in Jesus, who, though He was God, on earth He made no account of Himself, but gave all the glory to His Father in heaven. And we’ll close with another of Bruh Paul’s telling comments on the subject. ‘Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.’ (2 Cor.3:5) And all God’s people said a resounding ‘Amen!’ Now Friends, let’s go out and put it into practice nuh. Much LOVE!…our ego portrays us as giants…but in the eyes of God…we’re mere Lilliputians…
SCRIP-BITS 