Was It Worth It?
“Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
While riding in the truck on Monday with Jackson and Callen, Jackson randomly asked me, “did anyone from the Yellow Pollen Festival come to church on Sunday?” Initially, I was floored by this question from a 7-year-old, but then I remembered I had been mulling that same question over in my head all day on Sunday and Monday. I told him that no one we had talked to had come to church on Sunday.
Jackson’s next question cut me deep because I realized I had been struggling with the same question since Sunday after the morning service. His question was, “since no one from the Yellow Pollen Festival came to church on Sunday, does that mean that doing the Yellow Pollen Festival wasn’t worth it?” I have to admit, I had the same thoughts since no one actually came to visit our church…was it really worth it? I was discouraged after Sunday morning service because of the effort put into passing out information about our church and all of the positive conversations we had, seemingly to no avail. Did we do all that work for nothing? Could I have spent my time doing other more productive things?
My mind immediately went to I Corinthians 3 and Paul’s reminder to his readers that not everyone is going to see immediate fruit in their work for Christ. Some will strive for years witnessing to loved ones or inviting others to church and not see any fruit. Others will spend less time on these matters but reap the fruit from others' work. So, was doing the Yellow Pollen Festival worth it? From a human perspective…no, it was not. However, from a Biblical viewpoint…yes, it was definitely worth it.
The challenge to each of us is don't be discouraged when you don't see the immediate fruit of your labor. Keep planting, and keep praying that God will send the right person or situation to water the fruit that He used you to plant! When is the last time you followed the Lord’s leading to plant some fruit in another person's life? Who was the last person you invited to church or to a youth activity? Remember that God is the one that “giveth the increase;” we are simply called to be His willing tools in the process!