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"So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." I Corinthians 3:7-9
One of my latest passions have been gardening. I (with the help of my husband) rigged up a light system in the garage so I can grow seedlings throughout the late winter months. I only have a couple of small container gardens, but it gives me great joy to successfully grow vegetables and flowers. I can hardly contain myself when those little seedlings start to poke their heads through the soil; it is such a miracle of life.
God performs the same miracle in the souls of his children. He uses us, his workers, to help him care for the souls. We help him plant the seed and water it, and God nurtures the seedling to grow and multiply.
"But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." Matthew 13:23
Lessons to learn from the verse in Corinthians:
1) It is God, not us, that gives the increase. God deserves the full glory when a Christian obeys the Gospel. While we help God in this work, a system He set up for our benefit, it is between him and the person in question.
2) There are different functions necessary to bring a person to Christ. We all are not supposed to perform the same works to seek and save the lost. We all work together as one toward the same goal, and each job is necessary no matter how unimportant it may seem. If the seed is not properly planted, it will die. If it is not properly watered, it will also die.
3) We will receive a reward based on our own work. I think sometimes Christians feel if they did not directly lead to another's salvation, they don't "receive credit" for it, so to speak. As mentioned above, it takes the work of so many working together to lead to the salvation of a lost soul. God recognizes our efforts, and He will reward us for the part we played for bringing one of his children into the fold.