It is God Who Values

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.

1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (ESV)

In a public library, books older than five years were being replaced with new, revised, and expanded editions. To facilitate this transition, an annual sale of old books was held, allowing interested readers to purchase them. Two teams were responsible for this task: one removed the books from the shelves and prepared them for sale, while the other categorized them to make them easier to find.

Each team felt its work was more important than the other's, which posed a real problem for planning and organizing the sale. At a meeting, the library director declared that no group was more important than another, that everyone was simply following instructions. This is a well-known human tendency: everyone aspires to play a more prominent role. Paul himself faced this situation with the Corinthians, who compared him to Apollos.

To resolve the problem, he did not convene the full assembly. He sent them a letter explaining that neither he nor Apollos were responsible for the growth of the Church, but God Himself. Do not believe that your ministry or position in the Church makes you more important. All who serve in the Church are called by God and have received a gift that enables them to meet His expectations. Fulfill your duty without worrying about who does it better. Let God appreciate your efforts and your role.

May God's grace and peace be with you.