QT 2/26/2025 1 Cor 3:7-13, Building things that last

1 Corinthians 3:7–13 (ESV) —

7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.

10 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. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 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.

 

NOTE: Continuing on the theme that God's wisdom is infinitely greater than man's wisdom, it is not the person who led us to the Lord or who watered our need that saved us, but God. The important thing for us as individuals is to be building upon the foundation of Jesus Christ with things that last and not things that will burn up. The world's wisdom will NOT help you grow in Christ, and will only keep you from growing. There are only a three things in life which are eternal, most things are not. Our relationship with God is eternal. God's word is eternal. And the work we do to bring people to Christ is eternal. So, we need to stop and evaluate our life, how the activities match up against the three.

 

1) Do we make time for our relationship with God? Quiet time, prayer, and worship are important.

 

2) Do we spend time understanding the word? Bible study, scripture memory, teaching, preaching, meditating on the word, good Christian books, and spiritual conversations with other growing Christians, all help us to understand the eternal word of God and change us. (Incidentally, conversations with static Christians probably do little good for our spirit, although may help the static, backsliding person.)

 

3) Lastly, we need to be involved in the great commission, helping others come to know Christ. Giving, missionary work (short term or long term), praying for our neighbors, involvement in relief efforts as a Christian, and many other ventures whose purpose is to love others and get the gospel out to the world. All of those things are eternal.

 

PONDER:

1. How do I spend my life? What activities truly have eternal value?
2. What am I building upon the foundation of Christ? Will it last? Or am I wasting my life on things with no eternal value?

 

PRAYER: Father, it is never too late to evaluate or reevaluate our lives. Help me to see what I need to do more and what I need to do less. Continue to change me through the power of your Holy Spirit who lives within me.