1 Corinthians 3:10-15 

¹⁰By 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. ¹¹For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹²If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³their 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. ¹⁴If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. ¹⁵If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

Small House

Few years ago, we lived in a small house with attic. Every time a semitrailer, heavy truck or train passes by, our house would shake. It feels like earthquake or tremor was shaking the house. You would not like that horrible experience when you are sleeping, would you? So, choose a house with strong foundation.

Spiritually speaking, we need to make sure that the foundation of our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is strong and stable. No one knows; Christ may return in the next moment or any time it could be our time to leave this earth.

How do you interpret what Apostle Paul mentioned in Ephesians 2:19-22?

¹⁹Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,  ²⁰built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. ²¹In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. ²²And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

What did Apostle Paul imply when he mentioned about God’s people and his household being built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets?

The foundation of the apostles and prophets points to supplementary exposition or clarification of Christ’s teachings that we may not readily understand.

Christians are called God’s temple, and our Lord Christ Jesus is the chief cornerstone. All parts of God’s temple are eternally secured in Jesus Christ.

Later Apostle Paul mentioned in Ephesians 4:11-13, ¹¹Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ¹²to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Since Christ has returned to heaven to prepare a place for each believer, the work in his kingdom should continue. He gave his church apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors and teachers to equip and help us understand how we may serve. Service in the kingdom of God helps us reach unity in faith and knowledge of Christ. Involvement in serving in God’s kingdom amplifies our spiritual maturity.  Here’s a personal reflection. Why should we serve in the kingdom of God?

It’s our expression of faith in Christ. We praise God for assurance we live with him heaven; we thank him for the many good things he has done in our life; we want to grow mature spiritually and encourage one another as we participate in God’s vineyard. Christ Jesus is the chief cornerstone, the foundation of our faith, and we are significant parts of the kingdom that God builds for Christ Jesus our Lord.

1.  Build for Christ

¹⁰By 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. ¹¹For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 

Apostle Paul and his mission team started the church in the city of Corinth. He laid the foundation of their faith in Jesus Christ. Apollos, Peter and other preachers may have come to the church in Corinth and helped the believers grew spiritually. We can readily observe that this is common situation among churches.

Normally, missionaries and church planters may start a church, and then they move to another mission point and start another church again and again. Surely, a church planter may choose to continue or serve as pastor of the church.

Apostle Paul was called as missionary, a church planter and not as pastor.

As expected, the original members of the church in Corinth reserved their loyalty to Apostle Paul when they vocally said that they followed Paul, and those who said they followed Apollos may have preferred him as their preacher.

New Pastor

Many Christian churches have faster turnover of pastors. Some pastor may resign; they may transfer or retire. When a pastor is gone and new pastor comes, some church attendees cannot help but to compare new pastors to their former pastors. When they vocally express preference to their previous pastor more than to their new pastor, their loyalty belongs to their previous pastor, right?

Loyalty to pastors is appreciated but it practically proves also that they are still infants in their spiritual life. Loyalty to humans will be shaken. We will not be shaken if loyalty is given to Christ alone, the foundation of our spiritual life.

We have been spiritually born again in Christ and not in any human being. Like Apostle Paul, pastors and church leaders build on Christ as our foundation. And for us to spiritually grow mature together in unity of our faith and knowledge of Christ, it is best for all of us to harmoniously get involved in the ministry. Why?

Pertaining to Christ it says in Colossians 1:16, ¹⁶For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities: all things have been created through him and for him.

Keep in mind: Everyone is included; all Christians and those who are not religious yet. What is the purpose why all things, visible and invisible, in heaven and on earth were created? It is for in Christ, through him and for him.

Buildings without quality foundation collapse during strong earthquake. And Christians are also shaken when they have struggles. Involvement in the kingdom of God amplifies stronger faith in Christ. Together, let’s build for quality.

2,  Build for Quality

¹²If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³their 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. 

What is one thing that never said “Enough?” Fire! Fire is useful but never said enough. Numerous wild fires destroyed not just forest but also residential areas; they are terrible proofs that fire is destructive element. Biblically, fire will be used to test the quality of every person’s work, whether it survives or not.

How do you seriously consider this biblical warning in Hebrews 10:26-27?

²⁶If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, ²⁷but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

Deliberate sinning is practical sign of unbelief. So, verbal declaration is not assurance that a Christian is genuine believer of Christ. Behavior and attitude should prove our faith in Christ and we are transformed into godly righteousness.

Is it possible that new believers continue to sin. Yes! It is possible that a new believer continues to commit sin if his spiritual life or his faith in Christ is still at the infancy stage and not mature just yet. But to deliberately keep on sinning when he already knows that it is sin, such is deliberate rebellion against God.

Exam

In a TV show, a mother acquired exam questionnaires and gave them to her son. Her son got perfect score in the exam but he felt very guilty. What did he do?

He told his teacher that his mother gave him the exact exam questionnaires. His mother admitted to investigator how she acquired the exam questionnaires. What happened next? Appropriate punishment was administered accordingly.

Many people assume that since God is love, he also loves whatever they do so that they just do whatever they want to do, but it says in 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10, ⁶God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you ⁷and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. ⁸He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. ⁹They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might ¹⁰on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.

Make sure that your spiritual life is genuinely founded in Christ. Make sure that when you share the gospel of Christ, mention that God is love, and God is just. At the Judgment Day, every believer who trusted Christ Jesus as personal Lord and Savior will enter his heaven. We will receive reward according to how we obey the gospel of Christ. Make sure that what you do and build get rewards.

3.  Build for Reward

¹⁴If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. ¹⁵If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

The Lord had been very vocal about eternal rewards. The apostles of Christ were not embarrassed preaching about rewards. Of course, if our motivation of obeying the Lord is just the reward we may receive, there’s more pressure on us. But if by inspiration of his Holy Spirit we obey, we are not anxious about rewards. So, why did the Lord teach about rewards if it’s not to motivate obedience then?

In everything we do, we look forward to the result. Employees go to work not just because they love their jobs; they know that when they do their best at work, they will be rewarded somehow. Students study hard not just for the sake of enjoying studies; they also look forward to degree they may complete after all.

Spiritually, how could we be enthusiastic in our spiritual journey, and to be certain that rewards await us? We have to be empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Student

A student went to school to learn. He wasn’t anxious whether he received higher grade or just passing grade. He study hard and enjoyed his life as student. Years passed by, he completed his Bachelor’s degree and few Master’s degrees. When he enrolled for doctoral degree, he realized that grades are significant. Fortunately, his grades are sufficient for his admission into doctoral studies.

The said student did not dream of taking doctoral studies. He just wanted to study, that’s all. Moreover, his doctoral studies were very essential to his job.

Many students go to school just to acquire certificates. When certificates become the main reason of studying, there’s more pressure to students and their enjoyment to study could be diminished. Diploma should certify that the student has learned well. Similarly, many people attend churches just for the sake of being called Christians, and they are more pressured in their life as Christians.

Someone published in Social Media that Science proves human beings need water, food, light and air to survive. Truly, Science is right! Really? How is that?

Jesus Christ is the Living Water; he is the Bread of Life; he is the Light of the world; and he is our Creator who gave us of the Breath of life. We need Christ to survive not just in this practical world but most especially in the spiritual world.

Together, let us reflect on what it warned in Hebrews 9:27-28, ²⁷Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, ²⁸so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Anytime sooner, Christ may return. We celebrate the Lord Supper to remember his sacrificial death on the cross and to look forward to his imminent return. We celebrate the Lord’s Supper as reminder for us to evaluate our faith in Christ. Make sure that your spiritual life is genuinely founded in Christ.

Christ Jesus our Lord was crucified for believers to have eternal life.

Do you believe that the Lord took all your sins and crucified them with Christ? Do you believe that the blood of Christ poured on the cross washed away your sins? One more time, let us recommit of life to him. Shall we?

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