6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.
Sometimes we get a distorted perception of our value. We think we are much more important than we really are. Paul is battling this very thing as he writes to the Church at Corinth. They were breaking into groups centered around particular leaders. He uses the analogy of planting a garden. Paul’s point is that no matter what we might do, it is God who causes the growth. We can plant all the seeds we want, but if God doesn’t cause the growth, it all amounts to nothing. We can water the seeds, but if God isn’t in it, we have made mud. You see, our role is important, and necessary, but not independent of God’s work. We can do everything right, and if God is not in it, it will amount to nothing. This is a sobering fact. Our role is a limited role. God is the One who gets the credit for changing people’s lives. We do a little throwing and a little sprinkling, but God makes things grow. We are responsible for living faithful lives. We share our testimony. We demonstrate love. But God works birth in people’s hearts. And God gets the credit!
The Arnold Journey 