Assigned a Task, Not the Glory - 1 Corinthians 3-4

1 Corinthians 3:5 (ESV)
What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.

In our society we give much honor to men who titillate us with their charm, charisma and/or eloquence.  We like to honor people who have stood above the others.   We take great pride in establishing our cultural heroes and honor them with our subservient spirit and/or our gratitude and praise.   In the days of the early church, the believers at that time were no different.   When Jesus was about to die on the cross, however, one of the most powerful examples of His message was His washing the feet of His disciples.   In the above passage we see Paul writing about something very similar to that scene of the Gospels.   In the church at Corinth, the believers were having a dispute about who lead them to Christ.   Some had the privilege of having Paul introduce them to Christ and others were brought to the cross by someone named Apollos.   Apollos is mentioned ten times in the New Testament.  Seven times in this letter to the Corinthians, twice in Acts and once in the letter to pastor Titus.   He was a strong leader in the church and a man that matched Paul’s understanding of the Scripture, but apparently could outdo Paul in eloquence (Paul was not, by his own admittance a great figure before the church).   Whatever the relationship they all had with Paul, some had the same relationship with Apollos.  That was causing a division among the church.   Paul writes to dispel that and to remind them all that they are “of Christ.”  Paul and/or Apollos did not save anyone. In fact, Paul states that they are but “servants” through whom they believed, “assigned” by Christ.   The word servant is the not the normal word for servant but rather a lessor type.  John MacArthur, in his commentary, states the term refers to a “busboy” at a restaurant.  Paul is saying that he and Apollos are not even the waiter or waitress.  He wants the church to know that they have no significance and the church should stop honoring them in a such a way that it diminishes the work of Christ and gives some glory to them.   We are all but servants of Christ and assigned to the tasks we have been given to do for Christ.  We have been equipped and empowered by the Spirit (which is a theme in the end of this letter) for the tasks we are assigned.   Make no mistake, we are assigned a task.   Paul, like we should, wants to make sure the person assigned to the task is not stealing the glory given to the One who assigns us, equips us and empowers us.