“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow” (1 Corinthians 3:6-7).

Paul was writing to believers who were divided in their loyalties. Some in the church identified with Paul and others with Apollos. Paul pointed out that God uses different individuals to serve in different ways but we are still only servants. He is the Lord who oversees everything. “What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task” (3:5).

We certainly honor those God uses to touch others. Seed will not germinate if it isn’t planted and it won’t grow if it isn’t watered. God does use us to plant and water. But, the life in the seed is from God. It is God who makes things grow. Paul explained that the focus is never to be on the one God uses. “Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.”

I am personally thankful for the men and women God has used in my life. They planted His truth in my heart, helped me understand it and watered and nurtured my spiritual life as I developed. I also know that where there has been growth God gets the credit.

As believers we each have different roles to play. Sometimes we sow seed in a person’s life and never see the harvest. Sometimes we water the seed that someone else has sown. We have the privilege of playing a part in each other’s lives. We bring our unique combination of gifts and personalities to Christ so He can use us to serve others. Still, we know that where there is growth it’s because God is there. We each have a role to play but it is only God who can make things grow.