A Heavenly Reward

“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.”
1 Corinthians 3:14-15 (NKJV)

Paul knew that the church could not be built on any other foundation other than Jesus Christ alone.  But he also had a sober understanding that every person who came along and continued to disciple these believers in Corinth would have to answer to the Lord in how they continued to build the spiritual house of these people’s lives.

There are two important truths that we would do well to take to heart from our passage today.  The first is that there is a reward for the actions of God’s people who faithfully build up other believers in a manner that pleases God.  God is most generous to those who have blessed His children with healthy spiritual nourishment for their souls.  These good deeds must be those that God has prepared beforehand for His followers to walk in (Eph.2:10).  Too often we convince ourselves that that we are “building up” another person in the ways of God when, in reality, we are simply doing a meaningless work in the eyes of God.

What and how we build on the foundation are extremely important.

The second truth is that the believer’s work that does not please God will be burned up.  All that time and energy that is put into those things will profit nothing in the end.  Yes, there is still a great hope for this believer in verse 15 - that he will still be saved, but there will be no eternal value for those works.  I hope that you and I will consider these truths and place our hands to God’s work and not a misconception of it.  May we obtain every reward that God has in store for us.  I believe we will IF we will simply humble ourselves, seek His will through His Word, and be faithful to follow His instructions.

May your work in others lives not be wasted in the eyes of God and may you receive a rich reward for how you pour into the lives of His people.

Your brother in Christ,
Aaron R. Force