It causes me to ponder when I see conflict between the members of the Body of Christ, the Church. The Apostle Paul wrote about this in 1 Corinthians 3:1-15.
He gives comparison of a baby who needs milk and cannot receive solid food at first, to some members of the Body, being “babes in Christ.” Unlike a baby who grows to be able to receive solid food a member of the Church can stay in this state of needing all their lives. I will use the phrase, “saved and stuck.”
The Apostle further teaches these cannot be called spiritual people but carnal. Carnality is envy, strife, and divisions. These happen in succession. Envying or focused on someone else’s stuff. What someone else is doing. This could lead to strife, fighting or quarreling. Then you break apart or separate for good. There are circumstances where God will tell you to separate. I believe this only happens not because God does not love the other person involved but due to the hindrance it may cause in His plan for your life. A person in this case is not walking in the spirit (controlled by the leading of the Holy Spirit), but by the flesh (me and what I want).
There is a sphere of influence you have been anointed to walk in by God to affect your world, your surroundings, and to whom you come in contact with. My husband and I want to be vessels for God to reach and bless others! The harvest is plentiful. There is so much to do and enough so everyone can participate! We don’t have to be jealous of what someone has or is doing in the Kingdom of God. The Word of God tells us why:
1 Corinthians 3:6, NASB: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.” Amen!
My husband Moses and I are merely co-laborers or fellow laborers of the Lord bringing some to faith in Christ. Both of us and you and you are one, and “we will each receive our own reward according to our own labor.” Praise the Lord!
The same principles apply when you’re on your job. When you labor, you receive a reward. In the Kingdom of God, we have a Righteous Judge who will pay us and give us a reward for our work!
Isn’t God awesome and amazing! He has said He wants us to work to bring souls to Him and He will do the rest! Not only that, but He will also pay us for doing this!!
One plants, one waters! Whether we for examples, in introducing the bible to someone, leading a person to Christ, teaching, or preaching, gifted in singing, we are one.
The Word of God speaks of who will receive a reward the prerequisites of receiving them!
1 Corinthians 3:14,15, “If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”
There is a warning!
The Bible tells us, 1 Corinthians 3:10, “According to the grace of God, which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.”
What God is looking at is what you did, how you did it and your heart! These will determine your reward! Are we giving all glory to God or are we prideful? Are we preaching Jesus Christ or another gospel? What are our motives? Any other work will be tried and burnt up in that Day and you will lose your reward. God will reveal the truth, but you will be saved!
The Body of Christ should not be in competition but endeavoring for the same purpose. Preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Bringing others into His Kingdom! Go where God leads, do what He says to do, preach the Gospel!
Marguerite Wafula