Readings for today: 1 Corinthians 3-4, Psalms 142
All of us are replaceable. None of us are essential to the advancement of the Kingdom of God. God doesn’t need us. He doesn’t require our gifts, our resources, our time, our assent, our presence, or anything else we might think we bring to the table. God is fully able to advance His purposes on the earth without us and yet He chooses to work through us. He chooses to work alongside us. He chooses to work despite us, bending all of our choices and decisions, even the sinful ones, to His sovereign will. Why would God do this? Because He loves us. He has never wavered in His faithfulness to us. He has never second-guessed His plans for us or the world around us. Our worth in God’s eyes does not come from what we contribute or what we add to the equation or our hard work or our diligent effort. No, our worth is grounded in God’s love for us. Period. Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else. And God affirms the inestimable nature of our worth through the saving death of His only begotten Son. Nothing could be more glorious!
This is why the Apostle Paul, despite the fact that he has done more to advance the gospel than anyone, can say “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So, then, neither the one who plants (Paul) nor the one who waters (Apollos) is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” (1 Corinthians 3:6-7 CSB) It’s a powerful testimony to Paul’s self-awareness and humility. He knows he is not important in the grand scheme of God’s design. He is non-essential in the great salvation plan of God. He is imminently replaceable. All he wants is God to receive the glory. God to receive the credit. I am fully convinced Paul would have been more than content for his name to be lost in the dustbin of history as long as it meant people would give credit to God.
What about us? I was talking with some dear friends the other day. Friends who love me well. Friends who appreciate me as their pastor. Friends who pray for me and support me and encourage me. We were talking about how non-essential all of us are to what God is doing in our church. They immediately pushed back on the idea. They wanted me to know how important they believed my role to be. And while I appreciate the heart behind their words, I was just as quick to remind them that I am no more important than anyone else. Yes, I am planting and watering as are so many others right now in our church. But it is God alone who gives the increase. And with this understanding comes great freedom. The pressure is lifted. Our need to perform is set aside. God is at work. Our job is to walk with open hands and an open heart before Him as long as we live.
Readings for tomorrow: 1 Corinthians 5-6, Psalms 143