When studying the whole of Scripture, there are some verses a believer must not miss. Special care needs to be given to those passages that have to do with our personal identity in Christ.
Take a fresh look at 1 Cor. 3:9 – “for we are all God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.”
One of the most powerful truths in this passage is the use of a possessive descriptor, “God’s.” What an amazing thought to be called something that belongs to the Lord Himself! Every follower of Christ becomes a treasured possession of the Eternal, All-Powerful One.
Note how He calls us His fellow workers. This could have a couple of meanings. Are we partners with God, colleagues together in the work, or both? I maintain there are vertical and horizontal dimensions to this phrase.
Vertically, in our relationship with the Lord, we cannot begin to do the work He gives us unless He is with us. The Matt. 28:20 promise is that He is with us. Horizontally, our Lord knows that to do the “greater works” of John 14:12 – the work He intends, the omnipresent work of the Great Commission – we must work together in cooperation with one another.
Southern Baptists did not invent the concept of cooperation. It is as old as the New Testament and as fresh as a brand new believer or a brand new church as it attempts to most effectively fulfill the Great Commission.
Because of the work we are called to do, we are to be witnesses both in our backyards and to the ends of the earth. You can’t do that independently and obey the Master. You have to work together to make disciples – fellow workers serving together to share the gospel and make disciples.
In this passage, we are called God’s field. In the most amazing ways our God is working in the lives of every believer to make us a producing field. Look at what work must be done in the field of our lives:
First, the rocks have to go—the old patterns of the self-indulgent flesh must be taken to the cross (Gal. 2:20). That’s what it means to die daily and take up the cross and follow Him.
Second, the soil of life must be tilled. God works in us to break up the fallow ground of our inclinations. Nothing can be left undone so that you trust him in all things. When I interview a new MBC missionary, the major question I ask is, “What has God done in your life to break your heart?” I want to know what rushes tears to their eyes. What depths did God take them through that qualifies them for leadership. Let me add, the Lord has taken every one of our MBC missionaries to the valley of despair and tenderized their hearts for His purposes.
Third, the weeds must be managed. This is our Lord’s handiwork to deal with the stuff that grows up in our environment that keeps us from producing. Some of the weeds are the stuff of life–that’s the stuff that obligates us to “spend” our lives instead of “invest” our lives and resources on the Kingdom. The weeds are sometimes the myths we believe–myths that reinforce our self-reliance or performance orientation instead of seeking after His passion for our personal lives. The weeds have to go.
Fourth, He provides the nutrients we need to become mature people. Not in chronological age, but mature and fit for the battle in hostile environments, laboring together in the harvest that our Heavenly Father purposes in this generation and the next.
God’s Building—We are God’s building, His workmanship. God is building our lives to be grand temples of the Holy Spirit (v. 16).
There are several components of a building. Consider these:
Foundation. Eventually we all learn and appreciate that the foundation is Christ alone!
Framing. We are His building to display the grandeur of God. No such thing as a self-made man. God’s building is built by the labors of many. Who is it in your life that God has used to build you up in faith? A pastor, a Sunday school teacher, your parents? God himself used the cooperation of others to make a difference in your life and to reveal His glory. Have you said thank you to them? And who are you working with to make disciples?
We are all on the team, and God is working through us cooperatively to accomplish His purposes, to be on mission with God.