Sheila said "the prayer" with John.

"Thus the saying, 'One sows and another reaps' is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work and you have reaped the benefits of their labor." John 4:37-38 NIV

Serious? I'd been talking to Sheila, with all the enthusiasm of a new believer, for weeks. It's so many decades ago, that the details are lost; but I remember the disappointment. I thought the credit belonged to me.

No, it didn't.

Paul tells us that one plants and another waters. God causes the growth.

Have you ever shopped where employees work on commission? If so, you may have felt the tension of who gets to you first; or who "really" got to you first. Such an atmosphere should not exist in the Church. Here are two good reasons:

1. That someone came to believe in Jesus as Savior is more important than who shared or how. That someone receives an encouraging word, financial provision, or direction is more important than the instrument God uses. James tells us that every good and perfect gift comes from God.

2. One planting and one watering is The Body of Christ as it should be--working together, rejoicing together with each success.

God doesn't want us competing. He wants us working together for His Glory. He doesn't want us finding value in our works. We already have value! Value that cannot be heightened or diminished.