HOW IS YOUR FOUNDATIONS?
A dear friend who was an International Bible teacher, but now with the Lord, describes 1st Corinthians as A CHARISMATIC CATHECISM FOR CARNAL CHRISTIANS. Paul had to correct so much error and extremes in the church at Corinth. I am wanting to highlight 1 Cor. 3:9-15 NKJV For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
N.L.T.
For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.
Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But 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.
N.L.T. For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.
Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But 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.
PASSION
We are coworkers with God and you are God’s cultivated garden, the house he is building. God has given me unique gifts as a skilled master builder who lays a good foundation. Afterward another craftsman comes and builds on it. So builders beware! Let every builder do his work carefully, according to God’s standards. For no one is empowered to lay an alternative foundation other than the good foundation that exists, which is Jesus Christ!
The quality of materials used by anyone building on this foundation will soon be made apparent, whether it has been built with gold, silver, and costly stones, or wood, hay, and straw. Their work will soon become evident, for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by blazing fire! And the fire will test and prove the workmanship of each builder. If his work stands the test of fire, he will be rewarded. If his work is consumed by the fire, he will suffer great loss. Yet he himself will barely escape destruction, like one being rescued out of a burning house.
MESSAGE What makes them worth doing is the God we are serving. You happen to be God’s field in which we are working.
Or, to put it another way, you are God’s house. Using the gift God gave me as a good architect, I designed blueprints; Apollos is putting up the walls. Let each carpenter who comes on the job take care to build on the foundation! Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ. Take particular care in picking out your building materials. Eventually there is going to be an inspection. If you use cheap or inferior materials, you’ll be found out. The inspection will be thorough and rigorous. You won’t get by with a thing. If your work passes inspection, fine; if it doesn’t, your part of the building will be torn out and started over. But you won’t be torn out; you’ll survive—but just barely.
Paul has packed so much into these verses, as he seeks to correct and guide the Corinthian church. Even though we are still very much under construction Paul reminds them and us WE ARE GOD’S BUILDING, and the Lord wants to continue building us and using us in His Kingdom, but we also have a personal responsibility to co-operate with the Lord and be sure we are BUILDING ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN OF THE WORD OF GOD, I have written on this important truth many times, and want to remind you, that this truth and principle goes right back to the Old testament where God said to both Moses and King David they must build the house according to pattern He had/has laid down in the Word of God.
I do trust and pray there have been and are some God appointed people who have and are speaking into your life, I sure trust you have been Biblically Discipled, and that you constantly keep working on those FOUNDATION PRINCIPLES, naturally speaking I cannot even drive a nail in straight, and have needed much assistance in anything I have ever tried to build.
We are also sure living in a generation where there are many false teachers who want to give you “new” ideas on how to build your spiritual life.
Paul then goes on and describes to us the results (or fruit) of building both correctly and incorrectly.
Paul describes “building right” produces the equivalent of gold, silver or precious stones, and when fire is applied to these they come through the fire unaffected in any way. But if we build our lives on wood, hay or stubble when the fire tests these foundations they are totally consumed.
So, we sure need to know what are the building principles we need to keep using to build right, so we need to go back to the BUILDING MANUAL-THE BIBLE. Please also let anointed ministries speak into your life as well, to assist you to continue to build right. Keep working hard on regularly assessing your motives and attitudes, and ever ask the questions, Is it for my glory or God’s glory, is it extending my kingdom or God’s Kingdom.
Look at the various translations above and let the Holy Speak to you, so you can become a first class builder amen,
