Focus On Inputs

Focus On Inputs
“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” -1 Corinthians 3:6

 I ran a very unimpressive half marathon in Memphis a few months ago. I won’t tell you my time – we’ll just say it wasn’t good. I trained for months and ran hundreds of miles. I rested in the week leading up to the race and ate well. But when the day of the race came I woke up feeling awful. As far as I can tell, all my inputs were right – but my output on race day still wasn’t what I wanted it to be.

Very often in life, we have control over inputs but not outputs. That’s what happened to me in my half marathon, and that’s what Paul is getting at in 1 Corinthians 3.

Some members of the Corinthian church were Team Paul. Paul planted the church in Corinth, and they were clinging to the good ole days when Paul had still been present as their pastor. Other members of the church in Corinth were Team Apollos. Apollos was another respected evangelist, who, like Paul, spent time in the Corinthian church. Apparently, some in the church favored Apollos over Paul.

When Paul writes back to the Corinthian church, he wants them to understand something: he and Apollos are on the same team. They want the same thing. Namely, they both want men and women to come to saving faith in Jesus. All of their work – all of their inputs – were to that end. Paul planted. Apollos watered. But neither Paul nor Apollos had control over the output. It was God who gave the growth.

I’ve been talking and writing a lot about ministering to the dechurched. Reaching those who have walked away from the church has become one of my main goals, and I’ve invited you to join me in that pursuit. But as we work – as plant and water – as we input, may we remember that the output belongs to God. We are to plant and water, but only God can give the growth.

So where does that leave us? I’m reminded of something else Paul wrote, this time to the church in Rome. “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual act of worship.” May we work to reach the lost as if it depends on us. But at the end of the day, may we pray and offer all our work to God as if it depends on him alone. May we focus all our energy on the inputs, and leave the outputs to God.

Your Pastor and Friend,
John Knox Foster