Building His Church – 1 Cor. 3 ESV

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (Vs. 10-15)

I have read this passage many times and have often referred to it in discipling others. However, I am not sure I have always correctly interpreted it. That’s a somewhat embarrassing acknowledgment right from the start, but I might as well lay all my cards on the table. I have typically personalized this passage to talk about my personal walk with God and my works. In other words, if I do the right things by the power of the Spirit (in my own discipleship), then my good works will remain and will result in rewards. Conversely, whatever I do in my own life for the wrong motives or in my own strength will not stand on the day of judgment. This is the American problem: we tend to think individually instead of corporately, and we personalize everything, even the texts written to the body. Even Paul’s statement in verse 15, that “you are God’s temple, and God’s Spirit dwells in you,” is in the plural Greek construction. He wasn’t talking to me personally but to the entire Corinthian church body.

Although there may be a personal application, it is not the text’s actual meaning. Paul is not discussing the individual believer’s walk or your own individual works. He is talking about building up the church, the body of Christ. The Church of God is built on the foundation of Jesus; He is the rock of the church. Then, those who serve the body (which at some level should be all of us) are building on that foundation. Some of us are building on that foundation, doing the right things, the right way, and in the power of the Spirit. Those who build in this manner will find that their work stands the test of time and judgment. At other times, we do the wrong things in the wrong way for the wrong reasons and in our own flesh. Those things will neither stand the test of time nor the final judgment as those works are laid bare in the presence of the risen King. What are some important takeaways from this interpretation?

• God wants you to build His church: No person, including the Pastor, owns the church. It is God’s church, built on the foundation of Christ and His sacrifice. We spend too much time building our own Kingdoms, implementing our own programs, or doing things our way. He rules His church and is the head of it.
• You are not rightly related to God apart from His church: There is an insipient individualism in the world that claims you don’t need the church. While the church does not save us, we are expected to be in a covenant community with other believers. This is not optional, and it is for our good and His glory. Paul did not envision a world where you could be a growing believer and disconnected from other Christians. This is a lie from the enemy designed to keep you from being all God wants you to be.
• We are not consumers but builders: The church doesn’t exist simply to meet your needs and serve your interests. Instead, God wants you to build His church on the right foundation. Around the world, you find the phenomenon of the few bearing the burdens while the many just sit and enjoy the benefits provided by the few. This should not be. Do the right things in the right ways and for the right reasons, but please, do something. The local church is not a “hands off” club you can join without responsibility. It is a covenant community that you partner with for the sake of the gospel and the good of your soul.
• The truth will come out: Finally, you can tell about the quality of the works based on the test of time. Those things done by God’s leadership, following His word, and by the power of His Spirit will stand the test of time and result in eternal rewards. I have seen a lot of “flash in the pan” ministries and works that do not remain in my day (some of those were mine!). What is true will remain, and what is built on personalities or cultural trends will not last. Beware the church built on the preacher’s personality or prominence; in the end, it will result in wood, hay, and straw.