1 Corinthians 3: 10-15 (Will Your Work Last?)

¹⁰ By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. ¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³ their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. ¹⁴ If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. 

 ¹⁰ "By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care."  Paul is saying that because God has chosen to use him in this way, Paul was able to build a spiritual foundation for the people in Corinth.  But now someone else is building on that original foundation -- Apollos.  This is true in our day, too, isn't it?  We originally accepted Christ as our Savior and decided to follow Him when someone shared that news with us, and since that time, many people have added to that foundation -- preachers, teachers, parents, friends, etc.  But here Paul is warning all of those people, and us when we play those roles, that we should make sure what we're adding to others' foundations is sound preaching and teaching.  This is not something about which we can be flippant.  WE need to check our own doctrines and teachings.

¹¹ "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ."  We don't have be afraid about what that former verse tells us, because here, Paul promises that no one can lay a foundation other than Jesus.  In other words, you can't ruin someone else's foundation if they have Christ.  He will always remain the foundation in their lives -- we simply don't have that much power as human beings!  So, you don't have to worry about making someone lose their salvation because of something about which you used to think incorrectly.  Jesus will remain.  A building is only as solid as its foundation, so we must be building our lives upon Him.

¹² "If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³ their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work."  The Corinthian church was filled with those whose work and ideologies were "wood, hay, and straw," items that would be quickly burnt up by God's judgement.  The church members there were immature, selfish, and not Christ-centered.  Instead, we must be building upon our foundation with high-quality materials that meet God's standards.  We must first be build solely on Christ; we must be sincere in our love and work for Christ; we must be obedient to what He says; and we must serve Him faithfully.  Only God can determine if we've done these things, and He will reward us accordingly.  This is not meant to manipulate us into action, but rather to encourage us to see where it is that God might want to use us for His Church around the world (remember yesterday's point).  I don't know about you, but I desire to do quality work for Christ -- and that can even mean in my daily interactions with the people around me.  We don't all have to move to Africa!  (That was my fear in 7th grade.) 

¹⁴ "If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward."  When God tests our motives and our hearts, will He find that our desire to please Him and to do work for Him is pure, or are we using our "work for Christ" as a way to be put in places where we receive power and praise?  Are we serving in our church because we want to serve Christ or so that people will know who we are and recognize our name?   If our hearts are pure, we will receive a reward.  I sure hope I continue to grow in this area.  I know my heart is not always pure -- in fact, if you could read my heart, you would find that it is quite the opposite of pure most days -- but I desire nothing more than to continue to serve the Lord better and come to know and emulate Him more.  I pray that that is what God sees when He looks at me, because I know that my God looks at The Heart.

¹⁵ "If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames."   If what has been built up is not pure, such as wealth, security, success, or fame, we will suffer loss, but we will be saved by the skin of our teeth.  Here is God's grace in action again -- don't you see His love and grace for you?  He doesn't desire to put you in your place and be vengeful to you.  Even if you don't have much to show for it, He will welcome His followers into eternity with Him.  Of course, that's not a reason to go on serving yourself, but to know that as long as you have Christ as your foundation, you are safe.  Now doesn't that let you put your shoulders down a bit?

Take some time to think about yourself today.  Are you serving the Lord or yourself when you look at how you spend your time and your money?  Those two things have always been good indicators for me, because they show me what I truly value.  I may say I love Christ, but some weeks my calendar says I love coffee dates with friends and TV shows more!  May I just ask us: Do we want God to be the center of our lifves? 

Pray that He will change your heart to break over the things that break His heart and give you eyes to see what He sees in other people.  Then watch as He slowly changes your priorities.  But first, we must ask.  You can't do it on your own.  Remember, it's a partnership.