YOU ARE A CO-LABORER WITH GOD
If you drive along Woodland Blvd. In downtown Deland, you will notice that all of the old buildings in that area, unlike the oldest buildings in Enterprise, are all built of masonry. That’s because of the fire of 1855. The fire, which swept downtown Deland in September of 1855 forever, changed the face of downtown DeLand along Woodland Blvd. The fire started in Wilcox’s Saloon and destroyed the 100 block of Woodland Blvd. on both sides of the road. The day after the fire, two city ordinances were set up. The first banned all saloons in DeLand and the second mandated that all buildings in the downtown area be built using masonry material, not wood. The people of Deland decided, a bit late, that they needed to make sure they built with materials that could not be easily burned, that could not be easily destroyed.
Paul warns Christians of the importance of building to last as well when he says in 1 Corinthians 3:13 each one’s work will become obvious, for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work.
Please open your Bibles this morning and look with me at the 3rd chapter of Paul’s 1st letter to the Corinthians. Turn with me to 1st Corinthians chapter 3, 1st Corinthians chapter 3 and verse 1, as this morning we are reminded that you and I are to be co-laborer’s with God.
- 1 Corinthians 3:1-23.
If you remember, the church at Corinth had issues. They had problems. In his letters to the church, to the Christians in Corinth Paul had to address problems with fighting among the members. People were arguing about which preacher was best and about which one they were going to follow. There was sexual immorality in the church. Many in the church were lazy, baby Christians. Even though they had been believers for many years, they weren’t growing. Being carnal, baby, non-obedient and non-growing Christians, the people in Corinth often took each other to court & sued each other. They argued about what they could eat and what they couldn’t. They argued about Christian liberty & legalism. They argued about who had the greatest spiritual gifts. In other words, like children the world over, the babies in the church at Corinth argued and fought, each one wanting their own way.
How sad it is that people often talk about wanting to go back to being like first century Christians and first century churches, without even realizing how much like those churches many of our churches are today. God forgive us, we still have non-growing, lukewarm, back-slidden, self-serving, turf-protecting, self-aggrandizing, uncommitted, blinded, wrong-focused, gnat-sifting, beam-blinded, stagnant, disobedient, vision-forgetting, sin-hugging, Holy Spirit-ignoring, self-promoting, prayer-less and powerless Christians in our churches today. Old-time religion? We’ve got it, and it smells to high heaven.
How quickly they, and we, forget Christ’s call to go and make disciples of all nations.
It is to such a church in the 1st century that Paul writes in 1st Corinthians and reminds them in the 3rd chapter, of 3 identities of the church. In 1st Corinthians 3 Paul paints 3 pictures of the church, and using these pictures, points out what the church and its ministries are supposed to accomplish.
First, in 1 Corinthians 3, in the first 4 verses Paul says:
Identities of the Church (These 3 identities are from Warren W. Wiersbe)
1. The church is a Family and the goal is Maturity – My friends, this church is a family. One of the primary goals of a family is to grow children. Families help teach children, and help them grow to become mature and handle ever greater responsibilities. A family is to help a child grow and take a productive place as an adult in society. If a child does not grow up, does not mature, or does not become productive, then there is either something wrong with the parents in that home, or there is something wrong with the child.
The same is true in the church. When you invite Jesus Christ into your heart to be your Lord and Savior, you are supposed to become a Christ-follower. You are supposed to be an imitator of Christ. We never figure out all of what that means, but we are striving to grow and mature and to become productive laborers in God’s Kingdom. If you are not growing, if you are not becoming more like Christ with each passing year, if you are not becoming productive, then there is either something wrong with the church you are in, or there is something wrong with you, or there is something wrong with the church you are in because there is something wrong with you. It’s that simple.
The church is a family and the goal is maturity.
2. The church is a Field and the goal is Quantity – 5-9a.
Second, the church is a field and the goal is quantity. A while back I was at a meeting with some other pastors. While we were eating, before the meeting began, we were talking around our table about how to measure a church’s ministry, how to measure a church’s success. Both of the pastors sitting with me said that they didn’t measure attendance and such things because that wasn’t what really mattered and attendance numbers and such did not accurately measure a church’s success.
To that I say, “Hooey!” While a church may grow without actually being healthy, and while a church, in a few circumstances, may not grow numerically even though it is faithfully being obedient to the commands and leadership of the Lord, I believe far too many churches and preachers point to their lack of numerical growth and say, “We are growing deeper, not bigger”.
My friends, Jesus said we are to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations. Again, the Bible says that God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Jesus said, “Go into the highways and byways, go into hedges and hedgerows and compel them to come in.” In the parable of the sower and the soils, at least some of the soil was productive. Listen; if a church, in most circumstances, is not reaching people for Christ, then there is a problem somewhere. We can never be content with where we are. We can never settle for what we have done, or with those we have reached. There are people all around us, and all around the world, who are dying everyday and heading into a Christ-less eternity. We must never forget that this place is not here as a club for those who are already Christ-followers. The church is a mission outpost and one of our primary responsibilities is to rescue people.
The church is a family, whose goal is maturity. The church is a field, whose goal is quantity, and the church is a temple, whose goal is quality.
3. The church is a Temple and the goal is Quality – 9b-23.
While never forgetting that we are to win many, we also must remember that we are also called to quality. Our goal is not to get names on a roll. Our goal is not to get simply higher numbers that we can report each year. The church is also a temple and our goal is quality. We are to do with excellence, everything God has called us to do. We must show the world that Jesus is so important to us that we put our best effort into everything we do.
It is with this in mind, that I would like us to think about the awesome privilege that has been given us. Look with me again please at 1 Corinthians chapter 3 and verse 9.
> 1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are God’s co-workers.
You and I are co-laborer’s with God! Have you ever thought about what that means? Have you ever thought about the honor that has been given to you? Think about it. Genesis 1:1 says what? In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. In the beginning God spoke and created everything. He spoke and the heavens and the earth were created. He spoke, and the waters gathered together and formed the seas. He spoke and the sun, stars, moon, and planets were created and placed in the universe. God spoke, and the earth was covered with plants. God spoke, and animals were formed all over the place. There were birds in the air, and fish in the water, and horses, cows, and spotted owls everywhere. He spoke and there were manatees and sea turtles. God didn’t need us then, and He doesn’t need us now; but God, in His infinite wisdom, has decided to work in, through, and with you and I! God has decided to use you and me to accomplish His purposes!
To me, this means several things.
I. I HAVE WORK TO DO
Tell someone, “I have work to do.” You are in this church. You are part of God’s plan, and you have work to do.
- 1 Corinthians 3:9
My friends, each one of you have something to do. Each of you have something to contribute. Each of you, and each of your ministries are important.
> Ephesians 2:10 For we are His creation—created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.
> Colossians 1:10 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing [to Him], bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God.
My friend, we are not called to be monks, sitting around and simply contemplating life. We are called to be workers, co-workers with God, laborers in His fields.
> John 5:17 But Jesus responded to them, “My Father is still working, and I am working also.”
II. MY WORK IS IMPORTANT
- 1 Corinthians 12:12-27
1. Because God gave me a special job. No one else is equipped, qualified, gifted & placed where you are.
2. Because the need is so great
> Luke 10:2 He told them: “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.
III. MY WORK IS FOR GOD
- 1 Corinthians 3:9
What I do is to be for God’s glory. It is for His honor.
> Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
You don’t work for your salvation. You cannot earn your salvation. You work because you are saved, not in order to be saved.
> 1 Corinthians 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory.
IV. MY WORK WILL BE COSTLY
- 1 Corinthians 3:12
It is easy to build with wood, hay and stubble. They are on the surface of the ground. It takes very little to get to them. It takes very little effort and very little sacrifice.
God, silver and precious stones, however, cost something. They take time to find. They effort to mine and/or resources to purchase.
It is easy to give God things that don’t cost us anything. But, real work for God will cost you something.
Man who called me Friday evening. Had things to do on Saturday, but wanted to know if we needed him to help on the church building. It cost him something. It kept him from getting some brownie points with his wife. It cost him getting that task checked off his list so he would no longer have it hanging over his head.
V. MY WORK MUST BE DONE GOD’S WAY
- 1 Corinthians 3:21-23
It is surprising to some people that the church cannot be run as a business and still be the Lord’s work. There is a wisdom of this world that works for the world, but does not work for the church.
- Peter & the coin in the fish’s mouth.
- Jesus multiplying the loaves & fish.
- John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness.
- Jesus avoiding crowds.
- The church praying Peter out of jail.
The world depends on promotion, prestige & the influence of money & important people. The church depends on prayer, the power of the Spirit, humility & sacrifice.
V. MY WORK WILL BE REWARDED
- 1 Corinthians 3:12-15
Those who are faithful in their work in the Kingdom shall receive a reward. There will be a prize for the faithful in Jesus. The Bible speaks of definite rewards, or "crowns" which await us. There is the "Crown of Life" for those who love Jesus and endure temptation (James 1:12). There is the "Crown Incorruptable" for those who discipline their lives in the race (1 Cor. 9:25). There is the "Crown of Rejoicing" for those who are soul winners (1 Thess. 2:19). There is the "Crown of Righteousness" for those who love His appearing (2 Tim. 4:8). And there is the "Crown of Glory" for those who faithfully shepherd God’s flock (1 Peter 5:4).
Let me tell you my friend, the work is worth it.
