TGBTG X 16 Years
Building on the Right Foundation: Lessons in Faithful Service
What does it mean to build something that lasts? In our personal lives, our relationships, and especially in our spiritual communities, we face constant choices about how we construct the foundations of our faith and fellowship. The ancient letter Paul wrote to the church at Corinth offers us a striking blueprint—not just for what went wrong in their community, but for what can go beautifully right when believers commit to building with the right materials and the right motives.
The Problem with Spiritual Immaturity
Paul confronted the Corinthian church with a difficult truth: they weren't ready for solid spiritual food. Despite their time in the faith, they were still operating from fleshly motives rather than spiritual wisdom. Their community was plagued by jealousy, division, lawsuits among believers, and shocking moral compromises. The wealthy members feasted while their poorer brothers and sisters went hungry. People were aligning themselves with different teachers, creating factions and fostering pride.
This wasn't just about theological disagreements. It was about hearts that had lost sight of what truly mattered—the glory of God and the unity of His people.
The good news is that spiritual maturity is possible. Growth happens when we receive the counsel of God with gladness, when we open our Bibles not out of obligation but out of genuine hunger, when our conversations with one another reflect the transforming work of truth in our lives. Maturity shows itself in how we treat each other, how we share with those in need, and how we prioritize Christ above all human teachers and leaders.
The Danger of Elevating Human Leaders
One of the most persistent temptations in Christian community is to elevate human leaders to a place they were never meant to occupy. Paul asked the pointed question: "What is Apollos? What is Paul?" His answer was simple yet profound: servants through whom you believed.
Every pastor, teacher, and spiritual leader is simply a vessel. One person plants the seed of the gospel, another waters it, but God alone causes the growth. When we forget this truth, we fall into the trap of personality cults, denominational pride, and the kind of division that destroys rather than builds.
The proper perspective keeps our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ, the only foundation that can bear the weight of eternity. Pastors and teachers are gifts to the church, certainly, but they remain men and women who need to sit at the feet of Jesus just like everyone else. They need grace. They fail. They struggle. And ultimately, their value lies not in their giftedness but in their faithfulness to point others to Christ.
Building with Gold, Silver, and Precious Stones
First Corinthians 3 presents us with a sobering image: our life's work being tested by fire. Paul describes two kinds of building materials—gold, silver, and precious stones versus wood, hay, and straw. Both can be used to construct something on the foundation of Christ, but only one will survive the refining fire of God's judgment.
What does it mean to build with gold and silver? It means doing our work—whatever that work may be—with pure motives and for God's glory. It means serving in the nursery not for recognition but because you genuinely want to care for the children of your church family. It means giving financially not to be seen as generous but because you want to advance the kingdom. It means singing, teaching, encouraging, and showing hospitality with a sincere heart that seeks only to honor Christ.
The tragedy of building with wood, hay, and straw is that it looks productive in the moment. You might accomplish much. You might impress people. You might even build something large and visible. But if the motive is wrong—if it's about building your own kingdom, gaining approval, or operating from pride—it will all burn away when tested.
This doesn't mean we lose our salvation. The text makes clear that even those whose works are burned up will themselves be saved, "yet so as through fire." But what a loss! To stand before Christ and realize that so much of what consumed our time and energy amounted to nothing of eternal value.
The Blessing of Sincere Service
The alternative is beautiful. Imagine standing before the Lord and seeing your acts of kindness, your faithful service, your sincere worship, and your genuine love for others all survive the fire. These become rewards that you can lay at the feet of Jesus, saying, "This has been worth it all. May You be glorified."
This is why it matters so much to check our motives regularly. Before you serve, before you give, before you speak words of encouragement, pause and ask: "Lord, am I doing this for Your glory?" That simple prayer can transform ordinary actions into eternal investments.
The call to remain faithful isn't burdensome when we understand what we're building toward. We're not just passing time until heaven. We're not just trying to avoid sin. We're actively constructing something that will last forever—a life that glorifies God and blesses others.
Sowing and Reaping in the Spirit
Galatians 6 reinforces this principle with agricultural imagery. Whatever we sow, we will reap. If we sow to the flesh—living for selfish ambitions, temporary pleasures, and earthly recognition—we'll reap corruption. But if we sow to the Spirit—investing in eternal things, serving with pure motives, and loving sacrificially—we'll reap eternal life in its fullness.
The challenge is to not grow weary in doing good. It's easy to start strong. The difficulty comes in the middle of the race when no one's watching, when the initial excitement has faded, when serving feels more like duty than delight. That's precisely when we need to remember: "In due time we will reap if we do not grow weary."
Faithfulness matters. Perseverance counts. God sees every act of service, every moment of obedience, every sacrifice made in His name. None of it is wasted.
An Invitation to Build Wisely
Whether you're new to faith or have walked with Christ for decades, the question remains the same: What are you building with? Are your spiritual practices, your service, your relationships, and your resources being invested with eternity in mind?
The foundation is already laid—Jesus Christ. Now comes the daily work of building on that foundation with materials that will last. Choose gold over wood. Choose sincerity over show. Choose humility over recognition. Choose Christ's glory over personal advancement.
And if you've never placed your faith in Christ, if you're still trying to save yourself through good works and moral effort, hear this truth: only the mercy and grace of God can forgive a sinner who has offended His holiness. Come to Jesus by faith today. Trust Him. Place your hope in Him alone.
The work of building a life that honors God begins with surrender—and continues with faithful, sincere service until we see Him face to face.
What does it mean to build something that lasts? In our personal lives, our relationships, and especially in our spiritual communities, we face constant choices about how we construct the foundations of our faith and fellowship. The ancient letter Paul wrote to the church at Corinth offers us a striking blueprint—not just for what went wrong in their community, but for what can go beautifully right when believers commit to building with the right materials and the right motives.
The Problem with Spiritual Immaturity
Paul confronted the Corinthian church with a difficult truth: they weren't ready for solid spiritual food. Despite their time in the faith, they were still operating from fleshly motives rather than spiritual wisdom. Their community was plagued by jealousy, division, lawsuits among believers, and shocking moral compromises. The wealthy members feasted while their poorer brothers and sisters went hungry. People were aligning themselves with different teachers, creating factions and fostering pride.
This wasn't just about theological disagreements. It was about hearts that had lost sight of what truly mattered—the glory of God and the unity of His people.
The good news is that spiritual maturity is possible. Growth happens when we receive the counsel of God with gladness, when we open our Bibles not out of obligation but out of genuine hunger, when our conversations with one another reflect the transforming work of truth in our lives. Maturity shows itself in how we treat each other, how we share with those in need, and how we prioritize Christ above all human teachers and leaders.
The Danger of Elevating Human Leaders
One of the most persistent temptations in Christian community is to elevate human leaders to a place they were never meant to occupy. Paul asked the pointed question: "What is Apollos? What is Paul?" His answer was simple yet profound: servants through whom you believed.
Every pastor, teacher, and spiritual leader is simply a vessel. One person plants the seed of the gospel, another waters it, but God alone causes the growth. When we forget this truth, we fall into the trap of personality cults, denominational pride, and the kind of division that destroys rather than builds.
The proper perspective keeps our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ, the only foundation that can bear the weight of eternity. Pastors and teachers are gifts to the church, certainly, but they remain men and women who need to sit at the feet of Jesus just like everyone else. They need grace. They fail. They struggle. And ultimately, their value lies not in their giftedness but in their faithfulness to point others to Christ.
Building with Gold, Silver, and Precious Stones
First Corinthians 3 presents us with a sobering image: our life's work being tested by fire. Paul describes two kinds of building materials—gold, silver, and precious stones versus wood, hay, and straw. Both can be used to construct something on the foundation of Christ, but only one will survive the refining fire of God's judgment.
What does it mean to build with gold and silver? It means doing our work—whatever that work may be—with pure motives and for God's glory. It means serving in the nursery not for recognition but because you genuinely want to care for the children of your church family. It means giving financially not to be seen as generous but because you want to advance the kingdom. It means singing, teaching, encouraging, and showing hospitality with a sincere heart that seeks only to honor Christ.
The tragedy of building with wood, hay, and straw is that it looks productive in the moment. You might accomplish much. You might impress people. You might even build something large and visible. But if the motive is wrong—if it's about building your own kingdom, gaining approval, or operating from pride—it will all burn away when tested.
This doesn't mean we lose our salvation. The text makes clear that even those whose works are burned up will themselves be saved, "yet so as through fire." But what a loss! To stand before Christ and realize that so much of what consumed our time and energy amounted to nothing of eternal value.
The Blessing of Sincere Service
The alternative is beautiful. Imagine standing before the Lord and seeing your acts of kindness, your faithful service, your sincere worship, and your genuine love for others all survive the fire. These become rewards that you can lay at the feet of Jesus, saying, "This has been worth it all. May You be glorified."
This is why it matters so much to check our motives regularly. Before you serve, before you give, before you speak words of encouragement, pause and ask: "Lord, am I doing this for Your glory?" That simple prayer can transform ordinary actions into eternal investments.
The call to remain faithful isn't burdensome when we understand what we're building toward. We're not just passing time until heaven. We're not just trying to avoid sin. We're actively constructing something that will last forever—a life that glorifies God and blesses others.
Sowing and Reaping in the Spirit
Galatians 6 reinforces this principle with agricultural imagery. Whatever we sow, we will reap. If we sow to the flesh—living for selfish ambitions, temporary pleasures, and earthly recognition—we'll reap corruption. But if we sow to the Spirit—investing in eternal things, serving with pure motives, and loving sacrificially—we'll reap eternal life in its fullness.
The challenge is to not grow weary in doing good. It's easy to start strong. The difficulty comes in the middle of the race when no one's watching, when the initial excitement has faded, when serving feels more like duty than delight. That's precisely when we need to remember: "In due time we will reap if we do not grow weary."
Faithfulness matters. Perseverance counts. God sees every act of service, every moment of obedience, every sacrifice made in His name. None of it is wasted.
An Invitation to Build Wisely
Whether you're new to faith or have walked with Christ for decades, the question remains the same: What are you building with? Are your spiritual practices, your service, your relationships, and your resources being invested with eternity in mind?
The foundation is already laid—Jesus Christ. Now comes the daily work of building on that foundation with materials that will last. Choose gold over wood. Choose sincerity over show. Choose humility over recognition. Choose Christ's glory over personal advancement.
And if you've never placed your faith in Christ, if you're still trying to save yourself through good works and moral effort, hear this truth: only the mercy and grace of God can forgive a sinner who has offended His holiness. Come to Jesus by faith today. Trust Him. Place your hope in Him alone.
The work of building a life that honors God begins with surrender—and continues with faithful, sincere service until we see Him face to face.
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