The Foundation of God's Temple
In 1 Corinthians 3:4-9, Paul writes about the foundation of God's temple and the importance of building on it wisely.
The Foundation of God
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:11)
In this passage, Paul reminds the Corinthian church that Jesus Christ is the foundation of God's temple. Jesus is the rock on which the church is built. He is the Cornerstone, the One who holds everything together.
Builders of God's Temple
Paul then talks about the builders of God's temple. He writes:
What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. (1 Corinthians 3:5-6)
Paul is emphasizing that he and Apollos are just servants of God, each with their own assigned tasks. Paul planted the seed of the Gospel, Apollos watered it, but it is God who makes it grow.
Building with Wisdom
Paul then warns the Corinthians about building on the foundation of Jesus Christ. He writes:
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise master builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:10-11)
Paul is urging the Corinthians to be careful how they build on the foundation of Jesus Christ. He is warning them that the way they build will be tested, and only what is built on the foundation of Jesus Christ will last.
The Consequences of Building Wisely or Folly
Paul concludes by saying:
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. (1 Corinthians 3:12-13)
If the Corinthians build on the foundation of Jesus Christ using valuable materials such as gold, silver, and costly stones, their work will be revealed as precious on the Day of Judgment. However, if they build using worthless materials such as wood, hay, or straw, their work will be revealed as worthless.
Conclusion
In conclusion, 1 Corinthians 3:4-9 reminds us that Jesus Christ is the foundation of God's temple, and we are just servants of God, building on this foundation. We must be careful how we build, using valuable materials that will last, rather than worthless materials that will be destroyed. Let us build wisely, knowing that our work will be tested on the Day of Judgment.
