God’s Building

1 Cor. 3:9-15-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.

Since the Pentecostal congregation in Leduc, Canada, had just had a new church built, they sold their old building. It was to be used as a new Evangelical Community Church in Beaumont, some ten miles away. But as the building was being moved on a mammoth trailer to its new location, it came in contact with a 138,000-volt power line, which started a fire on the roof of the building. The driver phoned the Beaumont fire department from a farmhouse. ’There’s a large building on fire about a mile east of the town on Highway 625,"" he said .""I’m sorry,"" replied the dispatcher, ’but that’s outside our jurisdiction."" ’Well, get your equipment ready,"" the driver replied. ’It’ll be there in five minutes!"

Verse 10-But let each one take heed how he builds on it.

Your number one priority is the spiritual building going on in you and through you right now!

Not your health.

Not your job.

Not your possessions.

Not your investments.

Not what your going to do after church today.

Verse 12-Now if anyone builds on this

No Age Restriction! Doesn’t matter if you start on this building project at 6 or 60!

No Retirement! You can’t say, “Let the younger ones do it!” The is no stopping till you leave this old life!

No Waiting For Better Working Conditions! You can’t say, “When things settle down I’ll do more for the Lord!”

Verse 12-with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

The story is told of a wealthy man who employed his brother-in-law to build him a house. He explained that he and his family intended to travel to Europe for the summer. While there, he wanted this dream house built. The brother in-law agreed and set to work. As the building progressed, he decided to cut corners here and there by using inferior materials wherever he could cover them up. After all, the rich man would never know the difference. In time the summer ended and the house was completed. The wealthy man returned home. Immediately he was taken out to the building site to look over the new house. After examining it carefully and admiring its elegance at some length, he said to the builder: "I’ll tell you, it’s lovely. In fact, you have done such a marvelous job that I’m just going to give it to you." You can imagine the dejected feeling of the brother-in-law when he knew that inferior workmanship as well as -inferior materials had gone into the house.

What materials are you using? Is your life counting for something?

Are you using your life, your talents, your money, your time to further the kingdom of God?

Are you making sure that what your doing during the day, is glorify God?

Verse 13-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.

The problem with buildings is unless you’re a professional builder, you might look at two buildings and believe they are built adequate, it’s not till the storms come and then you find out which one was built with superior craftsmanship and materials!

But there is a day when the carpenter (Jesus) will test what we have done on this earth and the question is will it stand or will it burn up?

Verse 14-15-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.

The fire and Boots my dog, I was saved, but he lost his life trying to rescue me!

(he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved)

There will be some who will go to heaven, but they won’t have any rewards to lay at Jesus’ feet, no wonder, why He will have to wipe away tears on that day.