Judge Nothing Before the Time

Read: 1 Corinthians 3:5-11; 4:1-8

You have just arrived at your mission field. You have been there for a few months and have yet to see even one soul come to Christ. Or, maybe you’re about to finish your first term, and you haven’t seen anyone come to Christ or aren’t seeing families grow. Perhaps you have had a good run but have come to a brick wall. Satan, your adversary, is shaking up your ministry. You’re trying with all your might to win souls and strengthen families, but the people won’t listen. All of these things can be disheartening. Two things merit consideration.

The first is we need to make sure we have the right mindset. God may use us to plant and water like Paul and Apollos, but notice that Paul declared that it is our Lord who gives the increase. Don’t fall into the trap of wishing you were like Paul or Apollos. Often we hear people say that Paul was the greatest Christian, but what did he tell us in 2 Corinthians 10:12? “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” Suppose we had Paul come as our guest preacher in our churches and lifted him up as we do. In that case, I’m sure he would react the same way as he did when the people in Lystra called him and Barnabas, Mercurius and Jupiter, and rent his clothes and try to explain to us that he is a man of like passions (Acts 14:12-15). He viewed himself as a wretched man before God (Romans 7:24). I believe the Apostle Paul would tell us to remember the foundation, which is Christ. The idea is to keep planting and watering, which leads us to our second point.

In 1 Corinthians 4:5, it says, “Therefore, judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.” We don’t always know what God is doing in the background. We don’t know how He may be working in people’s hearts. But the key is to trust Him and be faithful in the work that God has called you to do. It’s not about us. God commands us to go, but He doesn’t leave the results up to us. It is our Lord Who gives the increase. We must allow His Holy Spirit to do the work in the seeds that we plant. In Acts 2, we see that God added to the church. Peter was faithful in the place that God planted him in and was a blessing to that church. Someone said that God does some of His best work in the meantime. Adoniram Judson didn’t see his first convert until his eighth year. Sure it can be disappointing having to wait all that time to see someone come to Christ, but we must believe that God can. Harold Sightler preached a message called “Can God?” He said we ought to turn those words around and say, “God can!”

If we heed these thoughts and be faithful in the Lord’s work, we will eventually see things happen. You might not see it until you get to heaven, but it will be worth it. Don’t give up. Too many missionaries are throwing in the towel due to discouragement. Don’t let Satan keep you from doing what God has called you to do. Plus, you have people back here that love you and are keeping you in prayer. You are not alone.

Quote of the Day: "We can't change people, but we can plant seeds that may one day bloom in them." - Mary Davis