By The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building(I Corinthians 3:8-9).
In the New Testament, God’s word is adamant about the necessity of working together. The King James version of the Bible speaks of God’s people as “laborers together.”
During my many years of pastoral ministry, I witnessed tremendous achievements that occurred simply because church people worked together. I also witnessed missed opportunities when folks did not share the same purpose and promoted their own agendas. The first scenario is much preferred over the second one.
In the work of the Kingdom of God, one agenda matters — God’s agenda. I believe His agenda is summed up in Luke 19:10 which says, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” This is very easy for us to grasp — God wants us to pursue and win the lost. This requires each of us doing our part and yet working together as a team.
Notice what I Corinthians 3:8 says. One plants. One waters. They both have one purpose. This requires absolute unity.
In our society, division is often seen more than unity. However, among God’s people unity is to be the rule, not the exception. Psalm 133:1 says, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”
As we look at our churches and their relationship to a lost world, let us consider these teachings from God’s word. We all have our place in the Lord’s work. We all have one purpose: to see the lost saved. God will reward each of us according to our labor. Nothing we do for God’s kingdom will ever be wasted. Nothing we do for God’s kingdom will be forgotten by Him.
God help us all to be laborers together!
Dave Snyder is an Ordained Bishop with the Church of God – Cleveland, Tennessee. Before entering the ministry on a full-time basis, he was a school teacher. He also coached middle school basketball for eight years.
Dave and his wife, Sara, have two children — Craig and Karen. They also have one ten year old granddaughter — Breanna.
Dave and Sara pastored in West Virginia for thirty-six years. Sara is now retired from the banking industry, and Dave is retired from pastoring. However, Dave currently serves as prison Chaplain for the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Writing essays, articles, and devotionals is a real passion for Dave. He also enjoys playing musical instruments and singing.
by leaps and bounds 