No Fear For God's Children - Part 3

When Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, they really had some problems.  One was factions.  There was envy and division in the church.  Factions were being developed between Paul and Apollos.  The Corinthians were developing loyalties around individuals.  While it is appropriate for God's faithful servants to be appreciated and encouraged, they are not to be made the center of attention.  This was a sign of spiritual immaturity for the Corinthian believers.  They were behaving carnally, not spiritually.  Paul pointed out that he and Apollos were just servants.  The attention and honor is to go to God.  He is the One who causes the growth in the body.

Paul tells us in Ephesians that the church is a building being fitted together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit and according to what he wrote to the carnal Corinthians, every believer is a builder.  We are God's fellow workers in this building.  Each of us will receive our own reward according to our labor.  The building materials, our works, are pictured by precious metals and precious stones - things of value, things that will not burn when lit by fire.  They are also pictured by wood, hay, and straw - things of no value, worthless - things that burn.  Our works will be put to the test of fire.  Some will be high quality - these remain and for these we will be rewarded.  Some will be low quality - these will not remain.  It seems that both types will be recognizable to us before they are put to the test.  The point Paul is making is that our purpose should be to always serve the Lord with the best.  Christ is the foundation and He should be the center of the work as we build on the foundation.

From 1 Corinthians 4:5, we learn that the Lord is going to bring to light the things hidden in darkness.  He is going to disclose our motives.  We should be working to exalt Christ, not ourselves, or anyone else.  It will be things that are done for the glory of Christ that will be praised and rewarded.   The pastor who preaches sound doctrine is building with good materials.  When a person with the gift of helps spends himself serving others in the Lord's name, he is building with materials that will endure testing and will bring great reward.  How embarrassing and shameful would it be to have nothing left of value in the pile?

We know we are not going to face God's wrath.  We do not have to fear that.  Jesus took the wrath that we deserved for our sin.  He died for us so that we would no longer live for ourselves, but for Him.   May we be faithful servants, serving with our whole hearts for Him.   May we work to exalt Him and Him alone.  He is worthy of only the best materials and our best work.