1 Corinthians 3:10-15

1 Corinthians 3:10-15

I laid a foundation according to the grace of God that was being given to me as a skilled master builder, and another person is building upon it.  And let each one pay attention to how he builds.  For nobody is powerful enough to lay another foundation other than the one that is being laid, which is Christ Jesus.  But if anyone builds upon a foundation with gold or silver or precious stone or wood or grass or straw – the work of each will become known for the day will make it plain while being revealed in fire.  And the fire will test of what sort is the work of each one.  If the work that was built by anyone should remain, he will receive a reward.  If the work of anyone will be burned up, he will be punished but he himself will be saved, but just as through fire.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

At first blush, it looks like Paul is being arrogant.  He says, “I laid a foundation.”  It seems at first like Paul is talking about his work.  But if we read closely, we recognize that the foundation that Paul is talking about is Jesus Christ.  You see, Paul isn’t talking about his work in a prideful manner at all.  Paul is talking about his work in a submissive process to God.  When Paul preached, he preached Christ.  When Paul talked about glory, he talked about God’s glory.  When Paul taught, he wasn’t talking about himself but instead about God.  What seems arrogant at first is actually evidence of submission.  There is one foundation: Jesus Christ.  That is the foundation that we are called to lay.

What is the foundation that you are laying?  Is it Christ?  Is it something else?

Second Thought:

How do we know that Paul is speaking humbly here about the work?  Listen to what Paul says.  He laid a foundation and someone else is building upon that foundation.  This takes us back to the Greek point we made yesterday.  Paul did some work.  Apollos does some more work.  But God is the one doing the heavy lifting over the whole time.  It doesn’t matter who does the work or who does the most work.  What matters is that God is overseeing it all and we are building His vision.

Do you ever get irritated if someone else builds upon your foundation?  Why does this bother you?  Do you think this is a common human trait?  What do you think God feels towards this?  How can you not feel jealous or irritated when someone builds upon your foundation?

Third Thought:

Then Paul talks about paying attention to how we build upon the foundation of Christ.  He gives us 6 examples of things with which we can build: gold, silver, precious stones, wood, grass, and straw.  3 of these elements are combustible.  Essentially, Paul is telling us that we each have the capacity to build with things that will last or with things that won’t last.  The choice is really up to us.  One day everything we spent our life doing will be tested by God.  Everything that is of God will remain.  Everything that is not of God will be consumed.  But even in this, there is grace.  Because Christ is the foundation, so long as we are in Christ we don’t have to worry about salvation.  Even if we are in Christ and get every single thing wrong, we’re still in Christ.  Granted, it is best to build with something that will last.  But even if we do get it wrong, we’re still in Christ.  That’s because Christ is the foundation.

What does it mean to you to know that Christ is the foundation?  How can that really help you not fear getting it right or getting it wrong?

Passage for Tomorrow: 1 Corinthians 3:16-17