Built to Last

Just as a good foundation is necessary for the building on top of it (as described in the previous article), the building itself must be adequately constructed for it to stand up to external forces.

Years ago, I went down to the Gulf Coast for a mission trip to help rebuild after Hurricane Katrina.  The first night that we were at the camp, I remember the woman who ran the place telling her story about the hurricane.  She weathered the storm because her house was specially built to withstand it, with extra reinforcement.  However, a drive up and down the beach – even a year after the hurricane had hit – confirmed that not every house was built that way.

Even if we haven’t seen the aftermath of a hurricane, we know this principle from the fable of the three little pigs.  It might be quicker to build from hay or straw, rather than having to mix up mortar, lay brick, and let it dry.  However, when the big bad wolf comes (or a fire, as described by Paul here), there’s not much left.

As Paul continues in 1 Corinthians 3, he describes the reality that we can build upon the foundation of Jesus Christ (whether His teachings, His salvation, or other aspects of His divine self) with different “materials”:

If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

‭1 Corinthians 3:12-15 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/1co.3.12-15.NIV

So, what are the various things that we can build upon the foundation of Jesus Christ (see verses 12-15?  A commentator [Oster, p.95-99] suggests that these are lives – souls – that someone in the church brings to Christ.  Despite others’ best efforts, those that are led to Jesus turn out differently in their Christian walks.  We can help give them the best chance to succeed, even if (as mentioned in an earlier article) their growth isn’t ultimately achieved by us.

Perhaps other aspects of our walk with Jesus are also being included here, but the fact is that not everything that we do – even if it is built upon the foundation of Jesus – is going to survive judgment, or even the transition from the temporal to the eternal.

For instance, things that will probably last include investment in other people, evangelism and discipleship, service in Jesus’ name, and choices that we make because God directed us to.

Conversely, things that will probably be burned up include anything done only for ourselves, getting a fancy title in the church, receiving a perfect attendance award when we didn’t actually draw any closer to Jesus while we were physically present and, for those who struggle today with similar problems to the Corinthian church, bragging about the church we go to (i.e., so that others will be impressed, not so that they will come visit and meet Jesus).

In the end, it won’t be a secret what we have done – both publicly and privately – or the condition of our heart when we do so.  This isn’t about salvation, but rather whether we did anything worthwhile while we followed Jesus here on earth.  Did we just cash in a “Get out of hell free” card, or did we live a life for Jesus, serving God like He did, and letting Him guide our decisions – not only because He bought us back from slavery, but also because we trust Him to know better in the first place.

I appreciate that Paul compares himself to a “wise master builder” (per the NASB).  Even if he was referring to discipleship specifically [as per Oster], I think that it’s healthy to invest in skills, disciplines, and practices that help us become better and better at serving God and serving others.

Let’s not just be like rookies who show up to a Habitat for Humanity site and have to be told exactly what to do.  (It’s OK to start there, but we shouldn’t stay at that level.)  Instead, let’s be more like a skilled craftsman who has spent time learning how to work on what will not only stand the test of time, but even persist to eternity.

In the words of poet C.T. Studd:

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From Sunday School lesson prepared for March 10, 2024

References:

• The Lookout, March 10, 2024, © 2024 Christian Standard Media.
• Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
• Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation.
• The College Press NIV Commentary – 1 Corinthians, by Richard E. Oster, Jr.  © 1995 College Press Publishing Co.