Faithfulness

There are many problems with performance-based ministry.  Worship services can become "shows" to "perform."  Attendance and offering become numbers to be "achieved."  People become consumers and church becomes just another sales pitch.  Worse than all that, we try to do God's job.

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. (1 Corinthians 3:6 NIV)

When I taught this passage on Sunday, I encouraged everyone to underline, circle and/or highlight the last part of that sentence.  God causes growth.  We do not.  When we start rallying around a human teacher (Peter, Luther, Calvin, etc.) more than Christ, we forget what it means to be a Christ-follower.  When we try to boost our numbers instead of planting good seeds, we try to cut God out of the process.  We plant and water.  God causes the growth.

So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. (1 Corinthians 3:7 NIV)

This concept takes awhile to sink in.  We've all been trained in church as performance oriented so, we reason, to please God we must succeed.  Increase attendance.  Increase offering.  Increase salvation prayers and/or baptisms.  When we get more, God must be pleased more...right?  The problem with this is that we forget that God causes growth.  More doesn't give God more reason to love us or be pleased with us.  More only means God is doing more.

The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. (1 Corinthians 3:8 NIV)

Think about this for a minute.  Jonah was probably the worst true-prophet ever.  He didn't want to go to Nineveh.  He tried to run away from God.  God had to throw him in the sea, swallow him with a fish, and then finally spit him out to convince Jonah to go.  When Jonah preached, it was the worst sermon ever.  He didn't offer forgiveness, grace, or even the opportunity to repent.  Still, all of Nineveh repented of their sin and God didn't destroy them.  Jonah's numbers were great!  Jonah...not so much.

Now think of the many Old Testament prophets who preached the truth faithfully only to have the people (usually God's chosen people) persecute the prophets and continue in their sin.  Their numbers were terrible, yet God rewards them for their faithfulness.

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. (1 Corinthians 3:9-10 NIV)

This is what ministry is really about: faithfulness.  God is not more pleased when you reach bigger numbers.  God is more pleased when you are faithful to God's call in your life.  God is pleased when God says, "Pray for her," and you do.  God is pleased when God says, "Invite him to church with you this week," and you do.  God is not only pleased if he says yes to your invitation.  There are other factors at play that you have no control over.  You're not accountable for that.  Your only called to be faithful.

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:11 NIV)

How about you?  Do you try to "perform" for God or are you simply faithful?