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.
Les teaches from this passage that believers are not isolated workers. Paul planted, Apollos watered, others had a part, but God gave the increase. Coming to verse 9, Les says all of us together are laborers together with God. Using the beehive illustration, he shows workers with unique roles all part of the same hive, working for the same purpose, even kicking out the lazy. Then he states Paul says that is what we are: laborers, not as individuals, not just for your local church, but that is not the end result. The end result is that we are God's husbandry and God's building.
For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
More Questions
What does it mean that we are laborers together with God?
Being 'laborers together with God' means the believer is hooked up with the Creator God Himself, which is far better than a wealthy person getting rich by being hooked up with another wealthy person.