Whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have – Jesus Christ.
Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials – gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw.
But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.
If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss.
The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
As believers, we have the foundation already laid: Jesus Christ. That foundation may have been laid by parents, a sibling, a teacher, pastor, or various other people who have influenced us toward God.
What we build on that foundation will someday be tested by fire. Anything of eternal consequence will remain – nothing more. The rest will be burned up. Gone. Inconsequential.
Much of what society deems important, holds no eternal value. Influence. Power. Reputation. Wealth. Esteem. Money. Possessions. A large following.
These things are not bad, they are just wood, hay, and stubble. The kind of thing that will burn up on judgment day. Disappear. Gone. Inconsequential.
As the builder of your life, be very careful with what materials you build. The things that hold eternal value, the gold, silver, and jewels is what you will be left with: knowing and loving the Heavenly Father. Loving people as we love ourselves. Making disciples in the kingdom of God. These are the things which will survive the testing of fire.
In building upon the foundations of others (as is the true context of this 1 Corinthians 3 passage) deeds of kindness and words of blessing, – these can be like sparkling jewels, and blocks of gold in the structure. Patiently guiding, teaching, and directing our children or the people in our sphere of influence. This is building. Investing in relationships because Jesus cares about people.
Paul is talking about discipleship. Building up the believers around us. Building up people around us. Let us build with eternal-value materials!
Even those around us who do not have the foundation of Jesus Christ laid, we can hand them a sparkling jewel of kindness, or prophetic words of blessing as a block of gold through which they might then begin laying that foundation of Jesus Christ. We are all builders. Like Paul said: ‘Some plant the seeds, some water them’ but it is God who gives the increase.
May we be faithful and generous with our eternal-value building materials. May we scatter liberally the words and actions our Heavenly Father has given us. May we build, and imitate the Master Builder who has gone before us: Jesus Christ.
Again,
On the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.
1 Corinthians 3:13-14
If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss.