How Christ Takes the First Place in Human Work vs. Human Message

 

How Christ Takes the First Place in Human Work vs. Human Message

1 Corinthians 2:2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

1 Corinthians 3:6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God made it grow.

2 Corinthians 4:5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus Lord and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.

Colossians 1:18 He is the head of the body of the church, the beginning, the firstborn one raised from the dead, so that he may be preeminent in all things; 

Item	Christ in Human Work	Christ in Human Message
Meaning	All service and labor take Christ as the motive and goal	All preaching, teaching, and testimony take Christ as the central content
Reason	God’s purpose in working is not the work itself but that Christ may have the first place	God’s revelation centers not on doctrines but on Christ Himself
Way	Allow the Holy Spirit to deal with motives and intentions, discerning soul from spirit	Bring every truth back to “Christ and Him crucified”
Explanation	Working is not for interest, success, fame, or a group, but for Christ	The message is not centered on times, prophecies, systems, or practices, but on Christ as Lord
Purpose	That God may gain the expression of Christ through the work	That people may receive Christ as the Lord of all
Result	No pride, no jealousy, no competition—only whether God has gained something	No sects, no exaltation of workers—only the exaltation of the Lord
Mutual Relationship	If work is not for Christ, the message becomes personal	If the message is not Christ-centered, the work becomes a personal enterprise
Example	Paul planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth (1 Cor. 3:6)	“I determined to know nothing…except Jesus Christ, and this One crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2)
Application	Do not go beyond the measure God has assigned; stand in your God-given place	In every truth spoken, show how it leads people back to Christ
Burden	Not to save my work, but to save sinners; not to gain hearts, but to gain Christ’s heart	Not to transmit doctrine, but to bring people before Christ’s throne
Prophetic Guidance	“Lord, is my work today for You or for myself?”	“Lord, does my speaking today bring people to You or only to teachings?”
Conclusion	When work is Christ-centered, it becomes God’s work	When the message is Christ-centered, it becomes God’s word
Scriptures	Eph. 2:10; 1 Cor. 3:6; 2 Cor. 10:16	1 Cor. 2:2; 2 Cor. 4:5; Col. 1:18

 

✨ Spiritual Integrated Insight (Key Point)

• Life and experience are inward; work and message are outward.
• If Christ does not have the first place outwardly, inward experience turns into:
• mere ministry,
• reputation,
• or religious activity.
• God’s unique purpose in His work is:
  👉 to make His Son have the first place in all things.

🗣 One Prophetic Summary Sentence

Lord, make what I do not be for myself,
and what I speak not be for doctrines,
but only that You may have the first place in all things.

🏁 Ultimate Conclusion

Christ in work = my motive is dealt with.
Christ in message = my content is brought back to the center.

Without the cross dealing with man,
there is only enthusiastic labor.
Without Christ as the center,
there are only rich teachings.

👉 What God wants is not:
“much work” + “much message,”
but:
one Christ exalted in both work and message.

*Please refer to the 2025 Winter Training: Experience, Enjoy, and Manifest Christ (Part 4), Week 5: Tree of Life.