Saturday, August 26, 2006
1 Corinthians 3:12-13 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.
QUALITY MATERIALS
There are a number of building projects ongoing in the CLC, but I doubt that any of them are building using gold, silver or precious stones. I'm pretty sure that wood is being used, but probably no hay or straw. Can you imagine laying a solid foundation and then building on it with straw? It wouldn't be long before such foolish construction would be shown to be foolish -- like those houses built in Florida a few years back. So what is the point here?
Well, even as builders have to be sure about the quality of their materials, so also Servants of God. We should be sure about what we say for the sake of the building, the believers we are called to serve. We should also be careful because the work that we do today will be revealed on the Last Day -- it will shown to be true or false, quality or inferior. On the last day true faith will be known and revealed; the result of truth proclaimed will be seen.
If a pastor tries to build up your faith with anything other than God's Truth, then the results (while they may appear fine today) will be devastating on the Last Day. If we preach sermons that make you feel all fuzzy inside, but have no substance, the result will be evident at the end. If our congregations become characterized not by our preaching of law and gospel, but by social programs, by hugs and an empty message, what do you suppose will happen to the faith implanted in you by the Spirit? I think you know.
So the Lord warns all Christian Pastors and Teachers to be careful how they build upon His Foundation. While it is true that these words are addressed to Servants of God, and this responsibility is laid squarely upon those whom God calls to serve as Pastor, don't imagine for a moment that this allows you laymen to go to sleep. Who is responsible for what is taught in our congregations? YOU are, the members of the congregation are, those believers gathered around the Word of God.
YOU are to be like the Berean Christians, who searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether the things that Paul said were true or not. This is how you can know truth from error. This is how you can be sure that the foundation of your faith is being built upon with quality and not inferior materials.
