The number three signifies completeness. As fellow-laborers with God, our work is incomplete unless God gives the increase. This third usage is uniquely significant because it is repeated. Though it appears twice in the text, once in verse six and once in verse seven; it is considered as one occurrence because it regards one specific truth and is doubled or repeated to establish the truth. The Greek word for "but" used in both cases is alla, which shows emphatic contrast.

1 Corinthians 3:3-10:
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
⁴ For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
⁵ Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
⁶ I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
⁷ So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
⁸ Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
⁹ For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
¹⁰ According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

  I Corinthians 3:6-8 is a short allegory in which the building of the temple of God, the body of Christ, is likened unto a farmer sowing seed. Much like the parable of the sower, (Luke 8:11, Mark 4:14) Paul and Apollos plant and water the Word, but God gives the increase. The believer can plant and water as much as he wants, but only God can give the increase. If there is no planting and watering going on, then God can not increase or multiply the effort or effect. Zero times one hundred is still zero. However if we act and plant and water, then God has something to increase. It is the believer's responsibility to plant and to water. God will absolutely give the increase. The increase will not only come as others are added to the Body of Christ, but the increase will also be evident in the life of the laborer who plants and waters.

  The Corinthian believers were giving heed to genealogies which are vain and unprofitable. While one boasts that "Apollos witnessed to me!" another claimed special favor because Paul ministered to him. This carnal bickering and strife did nothing to promote unity and solidarity among the believers. Rather, it was divisive and brought attention to the messenger instead of magnifying the message. Man was getting the glory and not God.

  Paul reproved them for their error telling them not to glory in or strive about personalities, but to follow after God in Christ in their leaders. As workers together with God and with Jesus Christ as the foundation, they should build the temple of God spiritually and not be divisive or promote another foundation other than Christ Jesus the Lord.

  Paul declared that he and Apollos were both ministers, and that they only ministered what the Lord had given them. They simply ministered the Word and God gave the increase. God is the One Who assured us that His Word would never return void. Our labor is not in vain as long as we hold forth the Word of Life. (I Corinthians 15:58)

Isaiah 55:10,11:
For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
¹¹ So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

  God's Word prospers those who receive it, just as the rain God sends causes the fields to prosper. He who sows sparingly will reap sparingly and he that sows bountifully will reap bountifully. (II Corinthians 9:6) The point is to sow something, then God can give the increase.

  The word "increase" in I Corinthians 3:6 & 7 is the word auxano. It is first used in Matthew 6:28 where it is translated "grow."

Matthew 6:28:29:
And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
²⁹ And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

  In this first usage of auxano the lilies are shown to grow or increase. God cares for these lilies, and they grow. No one cultivates them, yet they increase. God takes care of them. In I Corinthians 3:9 Paul described the believers at Corinth as a cultivated field. They were primed and ready to produce. He also called them God's building, oikodome. That is used of edifying or building up. Thayer says it is used of the act of one who promotes another's growth. God actively promotes the growth of everyone who allows Him the access by their free will.

  Auxano is also used frequently in the book of Acts to describe the rise and expansion of the first century church. As it is used in Acts it denotes increase in both quality and quantity. There is increase in the Word within the individual believer's life, and there is increase in the number of believers as the Lord adds to the church such as should be saved.

  Colossians 2:19 has another interesting usage of auxano with its noun form auxesis

Colossians 2:19:
And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

  The body of Christ increases with the increase of God, (i.e. God's liberal supply).

  In this present administration the believer has the distinct privilege to be allowed to labour together with God. God has given the believer the ministry of reconciliation and committed the Word of reconciliation to him so that he can do the job. The believer works the ministry of reconciliation by ministering the Word of reconciliation. The believer sows the Word;' God gives the increase.

  Romans 10 shows this beautiful relationship.

Romans 10:13:
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

  Notice the passive voice, as in verse 9, "they shall be saved." They call on the Lord, and the Lord does the saving. The passive voice shows that they receive the salvation.

Romans 10:14:
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

  That's where the believer comes in. The believer is the preacher, the herald. He proclaims the word of God. Yet he does not do so on his own authority; he is sent or commissioned of God.

Romans 10:15:
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

  As laborers together with God the individual believers in this administration have the opportunity to help build the temple of God. He that plants and he that waters are one. The believers with unity of purpose hold forth the word and God gives the increase. Believers should acknowledge God's working so that He gets the glory. The believer's responsibility is to plant and water. God will give the increase.

  The ministry that has the one true God at its center will continue to increase as the believers continue to plant and water the Word. Without God our ministries are incomplete and ineffectual, but with God working with us our ministry is both effectual and complete.

Philippians 2:13:
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

  God works in us to will via the revelation manifestations and to do via the impartation manifestations. It is His good pleasure to be actively involved in our lives, working together with us to bring the good pleasure of His will to pass.

  God has enabled the believer and stands with him in the outreach of His Word. The believer is of himself unable and unworthy, but God has made him both worthy and able. We must simply trust God who is at work in him and with him.

2 Corinthians 3:4-6a:
And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
⁵ Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
⁶ Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament;

  God is the believer's sufficiency. We are able ministers because God is at work, giving the increase. Enjoy the pleasure of His company as you labor together with Him.