What does it mean that we are laborers together with God in 1 Corinthians 3:9?
It means all believers collectively serve as God's coworkers, each with a unique role, like bees in a hive working for one purpose. Paul planted, Apollos watered, but God alone gives the increase; the church is God's husbandry and building, not merely individual or local efforts.
Les explains that Paul first reminds the Corinthians that he planted and Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. Then in verse 9, Paul says all of us together are laborers together with God. Les illustrates this with a portable beehive: the bees all have unique roles, some clean house for the queen, yet all are part of the hive and work for the same purpose. Likewise, believers are not laborers merely as individuals or only for their local church; the end result is that they are God's husbandry and God's building. The work is collective, God-dependent, and aimed at His increase.
For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
Is our labor as Christians only for our own local church, or is there a bigger end result?
No. Paul writes that all believers together are laborers together with God. Their labor is not only individual or limited to a local church. The bigger end result is that they are God's husbandry and God's building, while God gives the increase.
What does Paul say about working together in the building in verse 9?
Paul states that in verse 9, believers are working together in the building, which is the body of Christ. He, as a wise master builder, laid the foundation, and each one must take heed how he builds on it. This building is the church.