Joel M Bradshaw

6I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building…

10According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ…

16Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.–1 Corinthians 3 (with emphasis)

Spend enough time with a Christian and they will describe the church using images. These will also show up also in traditional hymns. The three biggest ones that we use are the church is the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12), God’s Family/Household (1 Peter 4), and the Bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11). The final two images are in this chapter. This especially works if you picture that God’s building is His temple.

Both fields and buildings are things that require intentionality, hard work, and dedication. Field and buildings both accomplish certain purposes that benefit others. The field formed the basis for an agrarian economy. All rose and fell with each new harvest. As a building, think of yourself as like a mobile home for God. The concept of Immanuel (meaning “God is with us”) is realized with the perspective that I don’t go to see God (and then can leave God or hide!), but rather God is journeying with me.

Christian, you are part of something that God values, works in, journeys with, and loves. The church is therefore the most important institution in the history of mankind. It has a foundation literally laid by Jesus. As a farmer lovingly pours himself into his harvest, so Jesus causes the church to grow and produce fruit. Are you a part of a church? Do you maintain the perspective that these images demand?–JMB