I've been working through 1 Corinthians. Yesterday I came to 3.4-10 where Paul says, (this is a loose paraphrase.) "Look, you have to get your minds on spiritual things and forget about concerns that are passing away. Think about spiritual things that are eternal. In that light, we ministers, me (Paul), Apollos, and for that matter deacons, prayer partners, anyone who trusts and follows the leading of God - we belong to God, not to the people we're ministering to or praying for. One of us may plant and the other water. We're both seeking to grow good plants for the Lord. As planters and water-ers we belong to the Lord and we'll receive just wages for our labors.
Likewise those we minister to, they're like God's field, or God's building. Ministers, or servants of the Lord are builders, but the building, that is the church or people we're ministering to, also belong to the Lord."
I find these words freeing on the one hand and challenging on the other. We belong to and are accountable to the Lord. When God puts it in our minds to reach out to or pray for another person, God will bless our obedient responses. If and since God initiates our ministry we have nothing to worry about except obeying, the rest is in his hands.
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