“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” 1 Corinthians 3:6 (ESV)
Jesus often taught life lessons through parables. In the parable of the sower (Matthew 13), he talked about a farmer who went out to sow. Some seeds fell on packed soil (or path, as some versions translate it). Birds quickly devoured those seeds. Some seeds fell on rocky ground and were quickly scorched by the sun. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Finally, some of the seeds fell on good soil and produced grain.
So often, I forget that my responsibility as a follower of Christ is simply to sow the seed. A quote that has been transformational to my pattern of thinking is, “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant” (Ziglar.com). How freeing!
In his book, The Fisherman, Larry Huntsperger states, “It is not my responsibility to attempt to sell Jesus to the world or rally the masses to follow his teachings. It is my responsibility to present him as simply and accurately as possible and let people decide for themselves what they will do with the Master (Jesus).”
God has called me to sow, not to save. My responsibility is to remain faithful in the sowing and watering – period. The saving is up to Him.