I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” vss. 6-7
1 Corinthians 3:5-9
Paul was a great church planter. Apollos was an eloquent preacher. Paul thought they were fellow servants in the work of the Lord, but the people thought they were competitors. The result was division in the community as the believers chose between them. Some of our congregations are having fun this Superbowl week by having worshippers choose between the Eagles and the Chiefs as part of their hunger offerings. In the proper context, because most people are competitive by nature, such contests can be a lot of fun. But as happened in Corinth, competitiveness in the church can have a demonic side too. Some pastors are intensely competitive, and if they’re on a team they can easily be sucked into popularity contests with other leaders. Congregations compete for members and continually compare their giving and attendance statistics. It’s a way for one community of faith to claim superiority over another. We’re always looking for ways to show that we’re better than others, and the numbers game is the easiest way to figure out winners and losers. It might be okay to do that on the playing field or the golf course, but the church is the last place we need competition. After all, just like Paul and Apollos, we’re all on the same team.
Thought for the Day: Where have I seen competition in the church?
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