Wide Open

“For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” (1Co 3:9 AV)

 

What a picture of the balance between the laborers and the possibilities.  The word ‘husbandry’ is another word for a field that is tilled or is tillable, yet remains unplanted.  The building here is not a building whose construction is complete.  This building is a structure under construction.  The context is Paul and Apollos watering and planting with God giving the increase.  In this verse, Paul includes the members of the church at Corinth as also laboring with Paul and Apollos.  But my mind goes to that word picture of a tilled field or a building in progress.  What do we see when we look at an empty field?  What do we see when we look at a building that is roughed in or only has a foundation laid?  Do we see what is?  Or, do we see what could be? 

It is really cool to dream.  What could come to pass is always an adventure.  This happens to me quite a bit while I sit atop a tree stand with nothing else to occupy my mind.  There was this property that I was invited to hunt that was stunning.  It was 1,000 acres of old pasture land that had been allowed to go back to the wild.  At least about a third of it or so.  Two-thirds were fields.  Exploring the property, it was easy to see how generation ago, cattlemen ran their herds between the fields to feed on the pasture.  This vast property could have easily handled at least a thousand head of cattle.  There were old fences and gates since fallen and rotting that told the tale of migrating herds.  There were watering holes, some still filled with water.  Most had gone dry.  There were a couple of old stone silos which were claimed by ivy and vines.  The cabin which the hunters were loaned was once a bunkhouse for the hands who worked the land.  My hunting partner and I used to look at this land and dream of what we could do with it if the landowner would bequeath it to us upon his death.  Of course, we would build our own homes for ourselves and our families.  Then we would add some cabins for a Christian retreat.  Not too many, mind you.  Don’t want to scare off the deer.  We would add a rather large pond or small lake.  Crops of corn or beans would pay for all the upgrades and maintenance.  Plus, the crops would keep the deer close.  One dream after another.  All this while looking over 1,000 acres with nothing on it.  It was an open canvas.  With nothing there, there were no limits.

The reason this concept excites me so much is even though the church and Corinth had some really serious issues, Paul calls it a field freshly tilled and a foundation whose end had not yet been seen.  These are labels of hope and possibility.  Paul sees an open field.  He sees the footers laid in the mud.  He sees what can be and not what is.  This statement sets the tone for the remainder of the book.  Paul must rebuke this church for problems ranging from serious immorality to suing one another in court.  And everything in between.  He does so with a tone of hope.  They are a wide-open field.  They are a project that has no limits to dreams.  Even though there are problems and hurdles to overcome, the canvas upon which the final product is painted is blank.  This is true of every church God has planted.  Sometimes we limit ourselves by what we can see and imagine.  But we are not.  We are only limited by what God desires and His plan for that field.  So, when we go to church tomorrow, what do we see?  Do we see empty pews, or do we see souls that one day might sit there?  Do we see an empty choir loft, or do we hear the voices that will come from it?  Do we see a wall or two with nothing on it, or do we see space where more flags and missionary letters can be displayed?  Do we see a half-empty parking lot or a lot that is half-full?  We are limited by three things.  We are limited by our immaturity.  That was Corinth’s problem.  We are limited by our faith.  We refuse to see what is possible.  And, we are especially limited by our sad prayer life.  We have not because we ask not!