God Gives The Increase
IT IS NO GREAT revelation that our world is carnally-minded rather than spiritually-minded. This is nothing new, for it has always been this way. Still, it is evident that carnality is increasing its influence in the streets of America.
Carnality is growing because the devil is craftier than we give him credit for being. Satan has carried the day by carnalizing spirituality.
"For when one says, 'I am of Paul,' and another, 'I am of Apollos,' are
you not carnal (I Cor. 3:4)?" Even in the shadow of the incarnation, the devil was carnalizing spirituality by engendering division among God's children (I Cor. 1:10-13). Christianity was becoming a cult of personality in the minds and conduct of its
adherents. Hence, the saints at Corinth were sowing the seeds of denominationalism. They were creating an Apollonian convention for those who preferred Apollos, a Petrine convention for those behind Peter and a Pauline convention for those who liked Paul
best. The three preachers, not desiring such ill-placed glory, sent them back to Christ and their brethren who held that line firmly. Paul reproved them: Who are we, "but ministers through whom you believed ..." Preachers and teachers are merely
servants, sowing the gospel seed wherever they find soil. "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase," Paul said (3:6). His prayer was that the Christians be united in the Lord, not divid
ed in their preferences for certain
men's personalities (4:6).
There are a few dangers inherent in this passage. The writer deals with the work of teaching the gospel to others. While noting the vital importance of the work that men do to sow the
seed of truth, He strikes the lectern, as it were, in proclaiming that the increase of souls in the kingdom is due to God.
The first danger is in thinking too highly of the abilities of men to win souls. Sometimes
we blame ourselves when our numbers do not grow and the fact is, the community is rejecting the old Jerusalem gospel, not us in particular. We get discouraged and the good attempts that we once made fade into memory, complacency and idleness. I wonder at
the solitude and despair of Elijah or the unpopularity and disdain suffered by Jeremiah. Our lot surely is not as grievous as theirs. These men were encouraged by God to carry on with their work, and so, we too, in the face of rejection, go on. Even if
it seems that the seed we sow continually falls on poor soil, that is, in unreceptive hearts, we continue to sow in hopes of it falling on a good and honest heart (Matt 13:18-23). One success makes up for a lot of failures. And the one abiding
consolation is that such pain has been shared by your brethren since time began. Noah was a preacher of righteousness who labored over the ark for a century and was able to preserv
e only seven other precious souls when destruction
called. Despite converting thousands out of sin, Paul failed to change the mind of Agrippa and Festus and thousands more Jews. The lesson is about perseverance-- they never quit sowing the good seed, despite hardship, and neither can
we.
The second danger with this passage is using it as an excuse to sit back and do nothing at all. Christians excuse themselves from labor by arguing that God gives the increase. That is so, but who is that
plants and waters, but men? The increase cannot come unless the good news is proclaimed to those who need to hear it. Many churches are hoping to grow by waiting for Christians to move to the area. Their vital signs are weakening. We are to be involved
in expanding the borders of the kingdom, not reconfiguring them.
If such complacency overcomes an entire congregation, a pronouncement of doom is due her, for she has followed the path of Sardis, who had a name
that they were alive, but were dead (Rev. 3:1). As long as the members of a local church are sowing the seed, the church is alive, despite a lack of numerical growth. The day that church stops sowing the seed, it is dead, though men would say it yet
exists for it still has some members left. No, it is dead already! "Strengthen the things which are ready to die," Jesus cries.
The third danger is narrowing the responsibility of soul-winning to a few. It
combines the trust in mere men with complacency and causes some saints to place the entire burden of soul-winning upon the preacher and the elders. Does a burden rest on their shoulders to proclaim the gospel? Of course! Is it theirs to bear alone, as
the congregation at large becomes spectators? Certainly not!
Imagine a church of one hundred members, one of whom is a preacher and three are elders. Should we have 96 spectators and four workers? Wouldn't the
cause of the cross be furthered more effectively with 100 workers, leaving the visitors to watch?
How many gospel preachers are in your workplace every day? How many elders are in your class at school? How many
preachers of truth live in your neighborhood or know your family and friends as intimately as you do? When Christians leave all the teaching to others, their circle of influence is neglected and abducted by the devil. God has no voice where you will not
speak; the devil employs false teachers, seduction and society to blast his message in the vacuum our idleness created.
Conclusion
If a church is working, but not growing,
that is nothing to be ashamed of. If a church is growing but not working, that will not last forever. If a church is not working and not growing, it is time for her members to resuscitate themselves. Revive us again, the song says. Take it home with
you.
Jeff S. Smith
October, 1997 Volume 3 Issue
4
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