Author: Lisa Groen
Category: Unpacking the scripture
After reading again the first 3 chapters of 1 Corinthians, I have noted that unless the Christian is building the kingdom of God carefully, we are not following your will and might be wasting our efforts. 1 Corinthians 3:10b-15 tells us “But each person must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13 each one’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each one’s work. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet only so as through fire.”
How I sincerely want to build in the Spirit with quality materials and not with wood, hay, or straw. Each time we read the scripture is the time to examine whether or not we have applied the scripture. Paul has taken some time in 1 Cor 3 in talking about jealousy, strife and comparison with those that seem to have a better deal in this life than we do. If we are not careful if our eyes are drawn to worldly goals, we run the risk of allowing for crooked building practices. Our building is only built right when we allow Christ to be our Chief Cornerstone, and aligning our building to fit rightly with Him! 1 Cor 3:1-3 tells us “And I, brothers and sisters, could not speak to you as spiritual people, but only as fleshly, as to infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to consume it. But even now you are not yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like ordinary people?” It looks as if Paul is saying some of the root problems and the definition in part of being fleshly, are jealousy, strife and comparison, and that these things block our being able to take in the solid food of the word of God. So, now that we have a short running definition of worldly comparison we truly see that after the fleshly Christian misses taking in the solid food of the word of God, he is not nourished correctly, and his habits become off center. The work the Christian does when his habits are off center when he makes room for the world could build a building that will be constructed off center. It only takes a little veering off course for a whole building to become crooked. With this scripture, do you sense The Lord prompting you to examine your life to look for the glimpses, the sounds and signs of worldly jealousy, strife, and comparison? The scripture beckons me to ask if my life will pass the test. That comparison I observe is not the key to happiness and not the key to gauging where God would have me to stand.
Prayer: With the guidance of your word Lord, I turn my attention to your goodness, and I let these old pieces of worldly clothing fall away from me. May we remember the gift you have given us of being wise builders of your kingdom, and the gift of grace for valuing what is eternally valuable—the salvation of people! As we consider how to hold to the right perspective for building the kingdom, Lord please help us make room in our thinking of how to steer closer to Christlike values, and away from worldly values within every area of life. May the treasure we possess be You Lord and Your kingdom and may we keep You as the number one value of our lives. May 1st Corinthians 1-3 remind us of what would set us free whenever we might have our eyes on the wrong pursuits! Amen!
Keep on growing in the Word! LG
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