Building on the Foundation (2 Cor. 3:12-15)

Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
(2 Corinthians 3:12-15, NASB)

One day each and every one who has proclaimed faith in Christ will stand before Creator God and will give an account for what we did during our lifetimes.

Some will have built on their foundation of faith by serving God, by doing His will, by reaching others for Christ. They will have given to the needy. Used their God-given gifts. Lived to glorify God.

Gold. Silver. Precious stones.

Others will have built on their foundation of faith by going to church—almost every Sunday—by  doing their own thing, by talking about God only on occasion. They will have hoarded their wealth. Hidden their God-given gifts. Lived to glorify self.

Wood. Hay. Straw.

The first will one day receive awards for their service. The second, while still spending eternity with Christ, will “receive loss” for their lack of earthly service.

I know the Bible tells us that Christ He will “wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4), so I don’t believe we’ll mourn a lack of reward.

And since heaven will be sin-free, I don’t believe we’ll be envious of others’ rewards.

No matter what our rewards in heaven will be, our focus on earth should be on doing all we can to bring glory to God and to fulfill His purpose.

Focus on those things most precious things.

The Motives of the Heart (1 Cor. 4:3-5)

But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.
(1 Corinthians 4:3-5, NASB)

We Christians like to quote another verse about judgment a lot: “Judge not, and you shall not be judged” (Luke 6:37, NKJV). But I like today’s verse even better: “… do not go on passing judgment [because] the Lord … will bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts …”

We have no idea what’s in a person’s heart. We can point fingers all we want, but God is the ultimate judge. And because we cannot know what goes on between a person and God, we must not judge.

God examines … not us.

There’s something in human nature that wants to be judge and jury. We love it when someone else seems to stumble. Our flesh likes to think we’re somehow better than someone else. But we all have sin of some kind in our lives. And we all have things we do to build God’s kingdom.

And I’m going out on a limb here, but I think God judges the person who does “good” with a wrong motive just as He does someone who practices sin. What I mean is if I’m using a gift He’s given me, but with a prideful heart, I’m sinning. Pride is a sin. Just like anger. Or gossip. Or covetousness. Or murder. Or adultery.

Or what about when I follow God’s will for my life, but I do it grudgingly, whining and complaining all the way? God will judge that as well because He also looks at my heart’s motives. It’s like the parable Jesus told about the two sons:

"Tell me what you think of this story: A man had two sons. He went up to the first and said, 'Son, go out for the day and work in the vineyard.' The son answered, 'I don't want to.' Later on he thought better of it and went. The father gave the same command to the second son. He answered, 'Sure, glad to.' But he never went. Which of the two sons did what the father asked?" They said, "The first" (Matthew 21:28-32, MSG).

It’s a tall order: We need to live as sinless as we possibly can, and we need to serve with right motives.

But praise God, we’re not in this alone. We have the Holy Spirit within us to encourage us when we’re struggling and to convict us when we veer from God’s path. And when we serve God with right hearts, He will reward us and bless us.

So the bottom line is, we need to watch out for ourselves. We need to focus on our own own relationships with God.

We need to leave all judgment to the only One who has the right to judge … and it’s not us!