The Watering Hole

”So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own purpose.” 1 Co 3:7-8

Throughout the Bible there are examples where the people of God wanted to take on responsibility in some spiritual fashion but God closed the door. The importance of discerning God’s will for our lives is paramount in doing the work of the Lord. In Acts we are told that the Holy Spirit led Paul to move on in his ministry instead of staying around in Ephesus which opened the door for another great preacher, Apollos. (Acts 18:20) In the Old Testament, David told God he wanted to build a temple for God but he was told no. God wanted David’s son Solomon to build the temple. (1 Chron 28:5-7)

At my dad’s funeral service his minister spoke of Daddy’s desire to develop a ministry within the church to encourage new believers in their walk with Christ. As he lay the groundwork with the minister Daddy began to decline quickly. He told the minister that this ministry would have to be put off…for a little while. My dad died a few months later. The morning after his funeral God began working in my heart and over the next four days gave me 5 essential principles for this ministry which I passed along to his minister. It will be the church who implements this new ministry although my dad felt led to plant the seed.

God uses each of us to the extent He purposes for our lives. Not only does this allow others to participate in the partnership of Christ but it also keeps us from trying to take credit for our work. There have been many times in church where certain individuals will take on anything and everything in the name of God. While passion to serve God is always good motivation we must make sure our service is the will of God.

It is just as important to know when our ministry in one realm is over and when a new ministry should begin.