In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul doubled down on what he mentioned in 1 Corinthians 1 about creating cliques and division in the church. Some believers were divided according to their leadership. If a believer was baptized or taught by Apollos, they would say, “I am of Apollos.” If Peter led them to the faith, they would say, “I am of Peter.” Paul once again notified the believers that this was wrong. Due to their immature spiritual growth, Paul stated they were carnal-minded and likened them to babies who needed milk instead of the meat-eating adults they should have been.
In the next few verses, Paul painted a clear picture to the Corinthians. He clarified that every leader in the church was merely a minister of the Lord and a fellow worker in the gospel. He eloquently stated in 1 Corinthians 3:6, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.” We all need to remember that although teachers and preachers of the gospel should be respected, they would have nothing to teach or preach about if it weren’t for the Good News.
As a farmer cannot plant without a seed, a minister cannot plant without the Word. As a sower needs God’s water to nourish his seed, a minister needs Christ, the Living Water, to nourish the faith of his flock. But even if a farmer sows a thousand seeds and waters his crop exceedingly well, there will be no fruit if God does not bring forth the bud. Likewise, no matter how often a servant of God sows or waters the Body of Christ, it will be of no effect if God does not give the increase.
Paul needed the Corinthians to understand that regardless of who initially planted the gospel in their hearts or who continued to water their faith after its planting, only God should receive glory for the fruits of salvation in their lives. Paul then gave another analogy relative to the believers’ lives and service. He referred to himself as a wise builder who had laid the foundation for the Corinthian Church. We know that the foundation is Christ Jesus per verse 11.
What Paul said next is full of God-breathed wisdom. 1 Corinthians 3:12-13 reads: “Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.”
Shortly after this verse, Paul also mentioned that we are God's temple and His Spirit dwells within us. So, when Paul mentioned building on the foundation, he was referring to what was being added to our foundational faith in Christ—he was referring to us. When we examine how God’s temple was built in the Old Testament, we see that it was built with fine materials, including gold, silver, precious stones, and wood (1 Kings 5 and 6, II Chronicles 2 and 3). They used only the best material to build God’s house. In the words of Solomon, God’s temple had to be nothing short of great. He said, “And the temple which I build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods … for the temple which I am about to build shall be great and wonderful.” (II Chronicles 2:5,9)
Therefore, as God’s new temples, we ought to be nothing short of great. We should add only the finest materials upon our foundation in Christ. But as Solomon was careful and specific about how God’s temple was built, we must also carefully examine what is being added to us. As Christians, we are to build wholesome things unto our foundation. Sound doctrine should be added to our belief in Christ. We are to build precious things of God within our frame, such as love, holiness, peace, patience, and joy. Upon reading about the aesthetics of Solomon’s temple, it sounds as if it was jaw-droppingly beautiful. And upon God’s inspection of us, we should be just as gorgeous.
But it is not only your temple that you should build upon. We should all work to beautify the entire Body of Christ, for His Spirit resides in all believers. And just as we are to be careful with building ourselves, we are to be careful with building of others. Even when we examine the Book of Exodus—before the first temple of God was constructed—God was very particular and detail-oriented about how the tent of meeting, tabernacle, and other holy items were handled and built. God wanted certain supplies used with specific measurements for a tent that was built by man’s hands. How much more serious and concerned is God about his temple now—temples built by his very own hands? For it was God and God alone who wonderfully crafted our bodies in our mother’s wombs.
As believers, we are to build. We are to build within ourselves and within others. But we must do so carefully. For Paul states that our work will be tested on the last day. So, let us build with pure hearts and excellent materials. God’s Word teaches us how to build upon our faith in Jesus and informs us how to edify one another. If we carefully follow God’s blueprint for building ourselves and others, we will build correctly and beautifully.
So, may we build. May you build precious things of the Spirit upon your foundation in Christ, and may you also build unto your fellow brothers and sisters’ faith within the body. May the Lord grant us grace to build according to his will. May we build carefully, and may we build beautifully.
Quin Arrington is a Christian wife, mother, and author with books available on Amazon at www.amazon.com/author/quinarrington
Thank you for your time. God bless!
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