Farmers and Gardeners
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Straight to the Cross
COLUMN: Field Notes
Farmers and Gardeners
By Michael E. Brooks
"Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but
ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord
gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but
God gave the increase. So then neither he who
plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who
gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who
waters are one, and each one will receive his own
reward according to his own labor. For we are
God's fellow workers" (1 Corinthians 3:5-9a).
After several years of enduring a "yard" of weeds,
barren of shrubs, flowers, or any adornment, my
wife, Brenda, and I have more recently spent
nearly all of our "spare" time on landscaping and
gardening. Our latest project was mulching all our
foundation plantings and flower beds. Several
pickup loads of shredded bark now cover the
ground, keeping out weeds, preserving moisture,
shading roots, and looking good to boot. This
whole process has reinforced my early childhood
opinion –- gardening is hard work! That opinion is
now tempered, however, with the additional
observation that the rewards are great. It is well
worth the effort.
Are not the same principles true of working in the
vineyard of the Lord? Christian service is hard
work, but well worth it. We are partners of Jesus
Christ, fellow workers with God himself. It just
does not get any better than that. Christians are
involved in the greatest labor on earth. Whether
our ministry is preaching, teaching, edifying,
helping, or leading by example, we are pursuing an
eternal reward for ourselves and for those we
serve. No goal is higher. No accomplishment is
greater.
The metaphor of gardening (or farming) is one
often used by Jesus and the Apostles in describing
the work of Christians. Jesus prayed for "laborers
in the harvest" (Matthew 9:22). He often used
agricultural parables to illustrate truths
concerning God and his kingdom (Matthew 13). Paul
compared the preacher to "the hard-working farmer"
(2 Timothy 2:6). And perhaps most famously he
identified himself and Apollos as "those who
planted and watered" in Corinth (1 Corinthians
3:5ff). These texts, along with many others,
suggest several principles regarding our service
to God.
First, there is important work for the Christian
to do. Perhaps God could have arranged for the
salvation of the world in some direct, miraculous
manner, not using human help in any way. However,
he did not. He chose to save the world through
preaching (1 Corinthians 1:21; Romans 10:13-17).
That means he chose to have humans assist him in
achieving his eternal purpose. We are his fellow
workers! You and I have meaning -- purpose in
life. We matter. That is a great blessing, one
which many may not appreciate, until the meaning-
less-ness of their own lives leads them to
depression and failure.
Secondly, like farming or gardening, Christian
service is hard work, with many steps along the
way. Ground must be broken with plow or hoe. Seed
beds must be prepared, then the seeds planted.
Weeds must be hoed or pulled, and fertilizer
added. Young plants must be watered and they need
to be mulched. Finally, at the end of the season
the harvest must be gathered and processed, with
the whole procedure beginning anew in a few short
months. There is need for many laborers, and for
each one to work diligently. Paul points out that
no one has to do (or can do) all this alone. Each
has his own gift, his or her own talent within the
general area of Christian service. Some are
planters. Some can better water. Others can plow,
or hoe, or mulch. There is room and need for all.
Recognizing this removes jealousy and pride. I do
not own the vineyard. I do not deserve credit for
the harvest. Others have done equally important
work along the way. And none of us caused the
increase. That was given by God. Be grateful for
it, but never claim it as a personal
accomplishment. We are his workers; the vineyard
belongs to him. Pray for more laborers.
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