BEING COMPETITORY
6 1 PLANTED, APOLLOS WATERED BUT GOD GAVE THE INCREASE.
7 SO THEN NEITHER HE WHO PLANTS IS ANYTHING, NOR HE WHO WATERS, BUT GOD GIVES THE INCREASE.
8 NOW HE WHO PLANTS AND HE WHO WATERS ARE ONE, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labour.”
9 FOR WE ARE GOD'S FELLOW WORKERS; you are God’s field, you are God’s building."
1 Corinthians 3:6-9 (NKJV)
Every minister called by God is a labourer in God’s vineyard (1 Corinthians 3:9).
We are called to complement each other, not to compete with one another. Some compare themselves with others, and the Bible says, such people are not wise: “FOR WE DARE NOT CLASS OURSELVES OR COMPARE OURSELVES WITH THOSE WHO COMMEND THEMSELVES. BUT THEY, MEASURING THEMSELVES BY THEMSELVES, AND COMPARING THEMSELVES AMONG THEMSELVES, ARE NOT WISE" (2 Corinthians 10:12 NKJV).
God has given each minister abilities to do one thing or the other well: "IN HIS GRACE, GOD HAS GIVEN US DIFFERENT GIFTS FOR DOING CERTAIN THINGS WELL" (Romans 12:6 NLT).
God has deposited, different gifts, abilities, grace and anointing in each minister.
If someone’s work seems to be growing faster and bigger than yours, you should not be angry or envious of the person (Galatians 5:26; James 3:14,16; Mark 15:10)
If someone’s work is growing and becoming big, it is because he has received mercy: "SO THEN IT IS NOT OF HIM WHO WILLS, NOR OF HIM WHO RUNS, BUT OF GOD WHO SHOWS MERCY" (Romans 9:16 NKJV).
Being angry with the person does not bring your own lifting. Be content with whatever God has given you. Be faithful in your assignment, put in your best, let God determine the result and reward.
Whatever reward God gives to you, be content with it: NOW HE WHO PLANTS AND HE WHO WATERS ARE ONE, AND EACH ONE WILL RECEIVE HIS OWN REWARD ACCORDING TO HIS OWN LABOUR" (1 Corinthians 3:8 NKJV).
6 NOW GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, AND IT IS CERTAIN WE CAN CARRY NOTHING OUT.”
1 Timothy 6:6,7 (NKJV)
If you put in your best: you understand God’s plan for your life and ministry, you fast and pray consistently, you focus on your assignment, and you do all you suppose to do to make your work grow, then leave the result to God.
God is not partial, you should be satisfied with His judgement: “FOR THERE IS NO PARTIALITY WITH GOD" (Romans 2:11 NKJV).
READ: Deuteronomy 10:17; Acts 10: 34,35
Trust God to reward you as He deemed fit. If you know and believe that God is not partial, that He is a just God—you will not be angry with another person’s success.
• Accept whatever God gives to you. Thank and praise Him for His blessings over your life and ministry.
• Remember, every believer has a race set before him or her; the race sets before you cannot be the same with another person, therefore do not compare yourself with someone else (Hebrews 12:1).
Run the race sets before you, that is, your assignment, you would be rewarded based on whatever you are assigned to do.
What matter most is your faithfulness in the assignment. God rewards faithfulness not the size or bigness of your work (Matthew 25:14-30).
You will not fail in Jesus’ name.
Peace!