You are God's Field...

In addition to the nightly reading of a Bible story with my son, I have added a short passage reading from my devotions the night before. Since I have started studying Corinthians, we are plodding through this book. I have my son say short snippets from each section (i.e. I Corinthians 1 -- "God is faithful") to help him retain much of this information. After all, God's Word, according to the Lord, "shall accomplish what I please" (Isaiah 55:11).

When we reached chapter 3, my son's short statement was from I Corinthians 3:9 -- "you are God's field." They metaphor is demonstrated in a different way later in the verse as we are told "you are God's building." Sitting in the deer stand this past weekend, I pondered those statements and the result is this blog. This short phrase opens for us because we see ownership, obligation, and opportunity.

The ownership is rather simple -- we are God's. We like to use language that indicates that life is ours to live; however, that viewpoint is faulty (see I Corinthians 6:20). If God owns the field, which we are, then He has bought us because ownership can only be claimed by a written deed. That deed was purchased as Christ shed His blood on the cross. While people may not believe they are owned by God, the written deed says otherwise. The paper record, due to a paid price, can be rejected; however, the legal standing remains.

Obligation originates because of ownership. God was to see His land blossom; so He will take steps to ensure that takes place. For a field to produce fruit, the land must be tilled, thereby, breaking up the hard soil. At times, the soil needs additional nutrients added to it; but once again, those soil additives can only be added through breaking up of the soil. So, when we are going through difficult times and wonder why, remember, we are God's field; and He, as the owner, is shaping the land to place us in a position to produce fruit. Maybe these difficult times are nothing more than God pulling weeds so that the seed gets all of the nutrients needed to produce what God intends.

Since the owner is obligated to the land and prepare it, He reveals His expectation, or opportunity, for the land. He wants fruit, and it is our responsibility to produce it. The land does not produce fruit of its own because it requires nutrients, sun, water, warmth and work. Yes, the land will grow what is planted; however, it takes a gardener to shape it. For instance, my yard can grow vegetables but that requires me to till the land, plant the seed, provide water, incorporate compost, trim the plants, pull weeds, and keep other "nutrient thieves" like grass from creeping into the garden.

In sum, God is in control. He knows what He is doing. Our role in this process is to accept His ownership, the nutrients provided to us through His obligation, and then take the opportunities, through His strength, to produce fruit. Remember, we are His field. He gets the credit for whatever is produced -- He purchased, He planted, He protected, and He produced. It is all about Him - to God be the glory!