1 Corinthians 3 On What Foundation Are We Building?
Spiritually where do we find ourselves at this time of our lives; are we a carnal (infant or spiritually immature; feeding on the milk of God’s word and not the meat) Christian or spiritually mature?
Vs. 3 For you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal?
The believers of the Corinthian church were divided. They were saying, “I am of Paul, I am of Apollos, I am of Cephas (Peter), or I am of Christ.” Paul wanted them to know and understand that they were all of Christ and “all things are yours; and you are Christ’s.” (Vs. 21-23)
Apollos was a Jew from Alexandria, a great speaker, mighty in Scripture, a fellow missionary of Paul’s and then further trained by Aquila and Priscilla. Paul planted the word and and Apollos took up when he left off and watered. Tradition says he was the bishop of Caesarea.
We have great men around us like these as well, yet we must also heed this lesson and remember that we must not be a follower of man but Christ alone. All things are ours through Christ.
Does strife, envy, or division describe our lives; does God find us in a carnal state today? Will our service and deeds be wood hay and stubble- worthless when the day comes for God to judge the merit of our lives? This is not the issue of spending eternity in Heaven, but receiving rewards for our service to Him on this earth. We must build our lives on that which is not corruptible-“gold, silver and precious stones”- those spiritual building blocks that will not burn away. Vs. 13 The fire will test each one’s work. If anyone’s work endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Vs. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
If our time was this very day, if God called us home, what would we present to Him? Let’s make sure we are not in a carnal state. Let’s drink very deeply of His Word every single day. Let’s lay that solid foundation in our own lives as well as the lives of our children and grandchildren. Let’s leave a godly heritage for them to follow. Let’s heed those lessons we learn and be not just a hearer of His word but also a doer.
