The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 108

Ver. 6.-Man's work and God's. I. MAN'S WORK. It is: 1. Varied. Paul speaks of planting and watering; may extend to the multiform operations of agriculture. We cannot all do the same work. Let us seek to do that for which we are fitted. There is some spiritual work suited to each of us. In agriculture all find employment, from th~ boy with his clapper scaring away the birds, to the presiding mind which controls all operations. If Christians do nothing it is because they want to do nothing. 2. Impor- tant. As in husbandry, unless we sow and water we may not look for a harvest, so as a rule in things spiritual. Never think that what you can do is unimportant. You. may think too little of your work as well as too much. You will think too little if yon think that your work may safely be left undone. 3. Honourable. Christian work itself,-what can compare with it/or an instant? Further, in it we are "God'sfellow- worlcers" (ver. 9). The Christian worker is one of God's nobility. 4. Limited. We can only do so much. We may sow and water, but not give the increase. It belongs to, us to preach aud teach, not to convince; to invite and warn, not to convert. We cannot produce spiritual results. We are not responsible for them. 5. Not independent. We can1Jot do our own work apart from God; it is "as the Lord gave to every man" (ver. 5). The seed that we plant is God's; the soil and water are God's; our powers employed are not "ours" but "God's." 6. To be rewarded. Upon just principles; according to the" labour" (ver. 8); according to faithfulness in the labour (Matt. xxv. 14-30). Not according to success. We cannot command this, though success usuaily follows faithful labour, and lack of success often means lack of diligence, or lack of something which should not have been lacking. Many Christians have an unhappy facility in accounting for failure. II. Gov's WORK. 1. Wonderful. Deeply mysterious. How marvellous the develo1•- ment of the seed after it is planted! Before this expansion and multiplication of lifo science stands dumb and confounded. So with the seed of the Word in the human heart. What inexplicable working and result! Well may we bow in adoring awn  ou. 111. 1-23.J THE FITIST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIA:NS. 11 l