Mona Lisa.
Nearly everyone knows this song, a classic of the great American songbook. It is an homage to the famous painting and the most popular recording by Nat King Cole that topped the charts in its day and was later voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. What is less known is that it was written for a long-forgotten movie called, “Captain Carey, U.S.A.” The movie was released in 1949 and the song won the Oscar for best original song in 1950. What about the movie? No awards and barely anyone remembers it!
There are many well-known songs that appeared in forgotten movies and musicals that garnered far more fame than the production for which it was written. To the chagrin and frustration of the producers, what should have been the main attraction was pushed aside.
There are many situations in life when something similar occurs. We may be assigned to be the leader for a project for school or work, hopeful that it will garner praise for ourselves. Instead, someone else’s efforts are recognized and our contributions are ignored or even denigrated. While we should be happy that our project was successful, it is difficult to put aside our hurt feelings and bruised egos.
After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work.
1 Corinthians 3:5-8 (NLT)
The Apostle Paul may have been addressing similar issues when he wrote these verses in his letter to the Corinthian Church. Many of the church members were engaged in petty arguments by whom each of them were originally mentored and discipled. Paul debunked this attitude and put everything in its proper perspective. Regardless of who was given the lead in the task to spread the Gospel to a particular area, he understood that all involved were only laying the bricks for building God’s Kingdom.
For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.
1 Corinthians 3:9 (NLT)
In life, our efforts may be overlooked by others. In God’s Kingdom, God sees and knows everything. It is the Body of Christ working together to serve God. If the world recognizes one Christian worker over another, it is a success for all.
Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.
Complete Blogs Indexed by Bible Verses
Discover more from The Bereans Blog
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.