SWHW Two Year Bible Reading Plan: March, Year 2Sample

Top Takeaway from Sarah Martin:

The cute little 5-year-olds were killing it on the basketball court. You know those courts where the rim is so low and the poor dad-coach is jumping up and down like he’s herding cats. The stands were full of parents and grandparents new to the excitement and anticipation of their kid making the play of his little 5-year-old life. And then, as the season went on, I heard myself cheer-coaching from the stands:

“Same team, boys, same team!”

As time went on and the confidence grew in ball-handling and shot making, the boys turned into ball hogs. They wanted their shot, the limelight, their great moment in the church basketball league. Grabbing the ball from each other to make their own shot…this is why I found myself yelling from the sidelines.

The context of our Scripture today is a cry from Paul for unity in the Corinthian church. We read in chapter 3 that a bit of a celebrity culture developed and people flocked to their favorite preacher. It kind of sounds familiar for our day, right?

Paul boldly sets us all straight with these words,

“What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.” 1 Corinthians 3:5-9

Today, I’m using this ministry plan Paul laid out as a reminder to preach to myself: 

Same team, girl, same team! 

Because isn’t it all too tempting to get wrapped up in my job, my role, the fruit sowed from my hard work, my glory, my ministry platform built, my results? 

God gives the growth. God gives the gifts. God gets the glory. 

Jealousy has no place when our life is ministry.

Living as one grasping for our own territory to plant, water, grow, and sow diminishes our effectiveness. 

The gospel is bigger than our unholy ambitions. There’s too much at stake in this hour we find ourselves. 

So I will cheer you on as you put your hand to your unique calling and tasks. I will praise the Lord that more will hear about Jesus and His goodness, love, mercy, forgiveness, and power because you are unabashedly using your voice and gifts to preach as you work.

And in those moments when that fleshly part of me surfaces, I will confess and repent of jealousy and competition and turn back toward what I know is true:

If the one true gospel is preached and lived out, if Jesus’ name is made known, if souls are saved, if wounds are healed, and if freedom rings…that is a win, no matter who had her hand in it.

Same team, girls! We are on the same team!

Father, forgive me when I forget the bigger Kingdom picture and walk in the sin of unholy ambition. I pray for my sisters who are leaning into Your ministry work, and I thank You for how the world hears Your name as they live out the gospel. Holy Spirit, I give You permission to quickly sound the alarm with big red flags when jealousy or competition arise in me. And, I will quickly repent and turn that sin into praise for how You are moving. Thank You for the privilege of coming alongside women from many pockets of the world to make Your name known and famous, Jesus. Amen!