1 Corinthians 3:9, Labourers Together With God

1 Corinthians 3:19 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

The Apostle Paul presents to the believers a proper understanding of God’s servants. They are fellow workers of God cultivating the crops in God’s vineyard. The vineyard belongs to God. The church belongs to God. The believers are God’s people. God’s servants are working together to accomplish God’s will and purpose for the salvation and edification of His church. He alone must receive the glory. With such an understanding, all division and strife will cease. Notice the emphasis of the verse on “God”, repeated three times in the “genitive” signifying “ownership”.

The redemption plan of salvation for mankind is initiated by God. After Adam and Eve fell, it is God who reached out to them to restore them. It is God who calls Noah to build an ark to save his family and the remnant of animals to populate the post-flood world. It is God who calls Abraham uproot himself and go to Canaan. Abraham was obedient to God’s call to serve Him all his life. The plan belongs to God, the ones to be saved are first chosen by God. God is the true Enactor from beginning to end.

The Apostle Paul understands that his service to God is repaying his gospel debt, for the great salvation that came to him when he was going headlong to hell persecuting Christians –  Romans 1:14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 

May the Lord help us to understand the great privilege to be labourers with God and humbly serve Him in serving His people. Amen.