We Can Do It Together

I pastored First UMC in Martinsville for eight years.  While there the District Parsonage was moved from Danville to Martinsville.  A group of pastors volunteered to move the District Superintendent. I rented a Penske truck and about a dozen others had pickups.  We loaded all the trucks and drove to Martinsville in procession.  When we arrived in Martinsville, a group of UMW’s had prepared lunch for us.  We ate and unloaded the trucks.  It was a wonderful day.  We all worked together and the job was finished in record time. I Corinthians 3:9 says we’re “co-workers in God’s service.”  It felt good to work with each other and to accomplish a task.  Moving was done with “co-workers” and, together, the job got accomplished.

Paul develops further the idea that believers are complementary co-workers.  He says we may have “different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them” (12:4).  Whatever our gifts, God is the gift-giver and these different gifts lead to “different kinds of service” (vs. 5). We’re all working for the same team and we’re all powered by the same leader of that team – God Himself. We’re not only each other’s co-workers, we’re God’s co-workers too. (3:9)

We can all be part of something much bigger than ourselves.  Whether we are moving the D.S. from one city to another or spreading the love of Jesus. Paul compared the building of God’s Kingdom to growing a garden.  Some of us plant seeds while some of us water the seeds.  We are as Paul said, “co-workers in God’s service.” (3:9)

God does much of His work on earth through volunteers like you and me.  We can accomplish much by working together to share His love with the world.

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for including me in Your plan to tell everyone about Your love.  Help me to represent You well with my words and actions.  Amen.

I Corinthians 3:9 – We are co-workers in God’s service.

Author: Tommy Herndon