Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 290

October 17;      I Corinthians 3:12;       136/260(III);        ‘Front and Center’

1 Corinthians 3:12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

Paul is teaching in this passage of scripture, that by the grace of the Lord, he is a wise master builder.  As such, Paul has laid a foundation for others to build upon.  The foundation would have to be the Word of God.  Once Paul left Corinth, the Pastor would have to continue to build on the biblical foundation Paul laid.  Paul warns them to make sure that what they build on the foundation Paul laid is the Lord Jesus.  Nothing else that is built on the foundation Paul laid out is acceptable.  Verse 12 tells me also that the foundation Paul is talking about is more than just the Word of God, it is also our attitude and actions.  At the rapture of the church, when we stand before the Lord Jesus, seated on the Bema Seat.  The Bema Seat of Christ is where we will be rewarded for our ministry for Jesus on the earth.  What we did for Jesus will be piled before us in six piles.  Gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay and straw.  Surely as we gladly and accurately share the Word with others, teach a Bible Study, teach children or youth in church our reward will be gold, silver or precious stones.  But suppose you teach the Word because there is no one else to do it , but you do not want to.  Jesus knows this and your reward could not be the same as if you taught the Word with all of you heart.  Wood, hay and straw results.  Wood, hay and straw reflect attitudes, indifference to others, the priorities of your life, etc.  Jesus loved us too much for wood, hay and straw.