1 Corinthians 3. Have you ever been through the process of building a house? It’s a lengthy and involved process – from the selection of the land, through the design and architectural renderings, then choosing a builder. I have several friends who build homes professionally, and someone might say “Hey Brian is building our house!” – but think about it, Brian himself is not actually out there wiring the electric or laying the pipes for plumbing or shingling the roof. Brian has subcontractors, lots of them, who do the technical work according to the plans for the house and in line with his instructions. Subcontractors are skilled in their specialty area, and they bring that expertise to bear on the project and (hopefully) do their work well. Subcontractors are not supposed to modify the plans and add random light fixtures or windows where none were planned. Subcontractors also know that the boss will be checking on them, and that their work must pass inspection at the end (otherwise they will have to do it all over again at their own expense).

In 1 Corinthians 3 the Apostle Paul reminds the congregation that church leaders are all subcontractors who work for King Jesus, according to God’s gospel plans. Paul has laid the foundation, but others will follow him who bring their own gifts and skills to the church. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.  According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it (3:6-10).

Paul also reminds the congregation that various leaders, subcontractors for the kingdom of God, are responsible for doing their jobs well because they know that one day there will be a final inspection! Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the [Judgment] Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire (3:11-15).

My own congregation is in a season of leadership transition. I find this chapter to be very encouraging and a helpful metaphor for thinking about leadership. There are pastors appointed to lead a church, and there are also lay members of the community who are very important subcontractors and brings skills and experience to the kingdom project that we desperately need. Pastors are appointed to lead, but we must remember that they are with us for a season, and a new subcontractor for the kingdom will follow them. They will be different, but the blueprints for the building project of the kingdom of God have not changed. The work continues and, in the end, it is only God who gives the growth (3:6).

How does the building project and subcontractors metaphor change how you think about the role of a pastor? Or how you think about your own role as a member of a congregation, who is expected to contribute to the building project? Do you find this passage helpful as you think about church leadership transitions?