Building Incentives
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What are building incentives?
The passage we are looking at today uses the analogy of building, and brings out the incentives that the Lord has for us. Open to 1 Corinthians 3:10-17.
As we are continuing in 1 Corinthians 3, let’s keep in mind the context. Paul has been challenging the believers in Corinth to find their identity in the proper place. Too many of them were trying to find their identity in their earthly wisdom. Others were finding their identity in a teacher or church leader with whom they aligned themselves.
First, Paul appeals to them as a brother in Christ, and warns them that they are immature when they are living this way, and quarreling, and having divisions in the body.
He appeals to them as someone who is their equal, yet as their spiritual father, and an apostle, he is calling them to mature. He wanted them to know that they need to look to the Lord for growth, not to another man. He illustrated this by using a gardening illustration. He said,
I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.
As people, God uses us in his harvest of souls, his harvest of people who will believe in Him. Some people plant the seed, that is they share the good news of Christ, and the teachings of Word of God. Other people water that seed, that is, they give more teaching to help people understand. Then, God takes that Word that is planted and causes growth.
Ultimately, we need to know that God causes the growth.
Now, Paul is going to shift gears and use a different illustration, the illustration of building. He alluded to this in 1 Corinthians 3:9.
For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
In the last illustration, the point was that we all need to grow, and God is the One we look to for growth.
Now, in the building illustration, Paul is going to make a different point.
Let’s read the passage and look for the point that Paul is trying to make.
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
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.
Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?
If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.
Prayer
God has incentives for us to be wise builders.
God has incentives for us to be wise builders.
First, what is the building? What is being built? What is the focus? The church.
Paul uses the building illustration to encourage us to apply ourselves to building the church. Many times, we look at this passage, we can focus on the aspect of God judging us. What have we done with our lives? While that is true, we will face a judgment in which how we have spent our lives in Christ, the focus here is specifically having to do with building the church.
The Corinthians were tearing one another down. They were not building up the church. There was quarreling. There were divisions. People were using foundations of wisdom or teachers they would follow instead of the foundation of Christ.
Paul warns them, and us, to build the church wisely on the foundation of Christ, because God has rewards for us based upon how we will build.
Let’s look more closely at the passage.
Wise Builder
Wise Builder
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.
relies on the grace of God
Does things properly
Realizes that it is ok for others to build on the foundation, doesn’t look at the church as his own and it for himself
Warns that each one should be careful how they build
Who are the each one? Each believer in the church! Later in this letter, Paul is going to get more specific how each member of the body is significant, and important for the good of the whole body.
One Foundation
One Foundation
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.
Christ alone
Not emotions
Not sensationalism
Not consumerism
Not philosophies
Not earthly wisdom
Not certain teachers or leaders
Not political movements
Phillip E. Johnson, a gifted lawyer and primary spokesman for the Intelligent Design movement, suffered a stroke and was likely to have another. Plagued by frightening thoughts during those first few days after his stroke, he was profoundly touched when a friend came and sang, “On Christ, the solid rock, I stand—all other ground is sinking sand.”
Johnson writes, “What was the solid rock on which I stood? I had always prided myself on being self-reliant, and my brain was what I had relied on. Now the self with its brain was exposed as the shaky instrument it had always been. I was a Christian, even an ardent one in my worldly fashion, but now all the smoke was blown away, and I saw Truth close up.” He resolved to keep Jesus at the center of his life and is now a different man.
How quickly we rely on our intellect and reasoning, only to find that it is a “shaky instrument.” Let’s never forget that Jesus is the only rock-solid foundation of truth on which we can always depend.
We need to evaluate what we are doing for the body of Christ. Are we building on the foundation of Christ, and his work to save sinners? Are we building others up with the knowledge of Christ, or do our activities have a different focus?
Each One a Builder
Each One a Builder
If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,
Building Materials Shown
Building Materials Shown
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.
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,
for our “God is a consuming fire.”
What will be judged?
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.
Motives of the heart
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
Deeds
Rewards - Incentives
Rewards - Incentives
If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.
Jesus talked of rewards
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.
the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
Warning
Warning
If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?
If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.
What about me?
What about me?
Everyone in the community knew Carl. He was a farmer and family man whose dedication went beyond his own productive fields. He also was known for his greater dedication to what he called “God’s harvest field.”
Carl’s neighbors sometimes considered him foolish, especially over his reluctance to work on Sundays. Instead, he would go to church, visit shut-ins, and focus on family life. Choosing God’s priorities over crop priorities seemed foolhardy.
One Sunday, while neighbors hastily gathered their harvest before a predicted storm, Carl went to church as usual. Later a neighbor mocked, “Think, Carl, by the end of the month the rest of us will be enjoying a big payoff because of our work. But you may end up with nothing, all because of your work for God. Where will you be then?” With quiet confidence, Carl replied, “Working for God has a payoff too, but not necessarily at the end of the month. The question is, when that day comes, where will you be?”
Which payday takes priority in your life? The one at the end of the month or the day you stand before Christ? Now is the time to evaluate your goals in life, for one day the Lord will reward the wise choices you’ve made.