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
Buildings are being built all over the world. Each one uses different types of materials to be built. Mud huts are built in some locations, steel buildings are built in many large cities, wooden and brick homes are the homes of choice of many people. Even plastic and glass buildings are built.
The choice of how to build the building, depends on how it is expected to be used and what type of weather it will have to endure. Wooden homes will not survive in locations with hurricanes. Mud homes will not be able to be built in extreme cold climates. Once a firm foundation is laid, choices on how to build the place have to be made.
Lives of people also require a foundation and a building. The world builds their lives on a foundation of self and sin. Believers build their lives on the foundation of Jesus Christ. Both still have choices to make on how their lives are built.
Salvation comes through faith in what Jesus did, not the works being done. However, God has rewards for people for what they have done with their life.
On the day Jesus returns, all the works of the believers will be tested in a fire to determine their value. Some of those works will be wood, hay and straw. These are works that have no eternal value. Works of ministry for selfish reasons, going through the motions of ministry without the heart in it, worshipping without the heart in it, and many other works. These works will be destroyed by the fire as of no value.
Other works, such as spreading the gospel, giving a helping hand, feeding the poor, loving the hated, and other works that Jesus did, will survive the fire. They have eternal value.
How are you building your life?
Is it with precious stones of high, eternal value, that will survive the fire?
Or are you building your life with things of this world, that are wood, hay, and straw, that will not survive the fire?
Either way, you will be saved, but your reward will be different.
I pray today that you will know what God wants you to do; that you will do things of eternal value for Jesus; that your works will bring glory to God; and that your life will be focused on God and eternity.
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