When you plant, God is responsible for growth
1 Corintians 3: 6 - 12 says "I planted the seeds, Apollos watered them, but God made them sprout and grow. What matters isn't those who planted or watered, but God who made the plants grow. The one who plants is just as important as the one who wateres. And each one will be paid for what they do"
The Bible says that when you plant, you shall receive growth and God is the only one who will bring growth. What matters is the one who makes the plant to grow. It does not matter who planted or who is watering. The two people are the same but what is important is the one who is responsible for growth of the seed is God.
Just as it was the case with Cane and Abel, they gave their different offerings unto the Lord. Caine brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord, and Abel also brought an offering of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. The Bible says the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. This caused hatred in the heart of Caine who rose up against his brother, Abel, and killed him.
What Cain failed to notice was that God respected his brother, Abel because of the quality of his offerings. He not only gave the first fruit of his flock of sheep but gave the best parts as an offering to God. This made God to be pleased with him.
This also applies to us as Christians. Every one of us will receive from God according to how you have given unto Him. If you work hard and give your best to God, God will honour you. We witness that in church when you find a new member of the church gives a huge testimony and you start to question your faith in God.
The reason the person is giving his or her testimony is because he/she is honouring God with the best of what she or he has. The reason why somebody is giving testimony is because he or she was faithful unto God. The less you give, and the more apprehensive you become will not yield good rewards. Give God your best, and you will see Him move in a way that you cannot believe.
When Gods instructs you to do something for Him, for instance a simple thing like dancing for Him, you must be obedient. Your obedience will grant you favour from God. Some of you need not to be prayed for to receive your breakthrough but you only need obedience in your life. Obey what He is telling you to do.
Paul says that it does not matter who plants and who waters, but what matter is what God says about your seed. There is one thing about God: He will never disappoint you. He said in His Word that “I will never leave you nor forsake you” – Deuteronomy 31:6. You might say to yourself that you have been planting seed to God for so many years but nothing is happening. I want to assure you that because of the life in you, you have a testimony.
Some of you ask God for a specific thing and He gives you the other thing instead, you start to become sad and complain to God. Because of your complaint you cannot see another blessing that you have received from God. Until you receive what you have requested you do not consider what God gives you as a blessing.
I believe that God is blessing us every day and every month there are blessings in our lives. You need to appreciate what God gives you at a specific moment. Do not dictate to God what He should give you. The Bible says that “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways" – Isaiah 55:8.
You need to be grateful for what God is doing in your life and what He has blessed you with. If you think God is not good to you, you need to retreat and go back to the place where you grew up and see some of your peers. You will realise that you are actually blessed as compared to them. Even when you struggle to pay for your rent, your bond or your car, you should consider yourself blessed. There are blessings that God gives us but we do not see them. The reason most of you do not see the blessings is because you have robbed God, and as a result you end up being indebted.
Romans 8:35 says “Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble, suffering, and hard times, or hunger and nakedness, or danger and death?” When you are going through sufferings, challenges and trials you must not let go of God. You should not let anything separate you from God, but you must hang on to God. Become more close to God during your trials and challenges. You need to live by faith by “seeing things that be not as though they were- Romans 4:17” You need to confess prosperity even though it is quite distant to you. That is living in faith. You need to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? No. Do not let hunger, hard times, suffering or even death separate you from God. God has allowed you to be in the season that you are in now. So, do not become anxious when you are going through difficult circumstances. Sometimes, God uses those challenges to shape you and prepare you for greater things. The Bible reiterates that the challenges you are going through should not separate you from God.
To God be the Glory.