Go for the Gold
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 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.
1 Corinthians 3:11-13
Paul had to deal with many problems in the congregations in Corinth. They were opening approving of sin, for one. But the major problem in Corinth was that they Christians were divided.
They found all kinds of ways to divide themselves. In 1 Corinthians 11, we hear there were divisions among rich and poor. In chapters 12 through 14, they were divided over spiritual gifts. Maybe the biggest division, however, was their division over pastors.
Paul refers to this in chapter 1: “My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, ‘I follow Paul’; another, ‘I follow Apollos’; another, ‘I follow Cephas’; still another, ‘I follow Christ.’”
In his second letter to the Christians at Corinth, he’s still dealing with divisions, now caused by false pastors who have come.
That’s why Paul reiterates in 1 Corinthians 3 who is the foundation of the church. “No one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” The Church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ, her Lord.
Living in Texas, we all know what a bad foundation can do to a house. Cracks start showing. Doors won’t shut or won’t stay closed. A shifting foundation can even cause pipes to break.
First, Paul reminds us that we are built on the foundation that does not shift, sink, or crack. If our hope were built on anything less, we would be standing on sinking sand. We are built on Jesus Christ and what he has done for us—he has freed us from slavery to sin and called us to live a new and holy life.
So what is Paul talking about? Building on this foundation with “gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw.” A foundation is meant to be built on. You can say our ministry plan builds on the foundation of Jesus. But there are different ways to build.
Paul lists two categories. First, the precious stones. Then, the flammable materials. And their flammability is the key point. He’s saying, you can either build with precious stones that will last, which serve the gospel, serve God and neighbor, or you can build with wood, straw, or hay, which serve only to prop oneself up, which have little value for the kingdom, which will be burned up on the Last Day.
Paul writes in verses 14 and 15, “If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.”
It’s hard to say exactly what Paul means by the reward here. Both the builder of what survives and what is lost will be saved as long as they are built on the foundation of Jesus. But how much better not to be the one escaping through the flames!
So as we consider our ministry plan now and in the coming year, we “go for the gold.” We will be ready to cast aside the wood or hay or straw that do little in service of the work God has given us. We will dedicate ourselves, not just our money, but our talents, and especially our time to the gold, silver, and costly stones.
God invites us to build on top of this foundation, his Son Jesus Christ. He makes us partners in the work of the kingdom. We will go forward in his name to proclaim the good news of salvation in 2022-2023 and beyond.