As a community of believers called the church, we have been given a mission to accomplish. Yet, as we saw a few days ago, when followers of Jesus attempt to advance and accomplish the kingdom mission that we have been given by God by building a church on any other foundation than the claims of Christ, the message of the gospel, and the teachings of the Bible, at the end of the day all of their efforts will fail to complete the mission.
But not only does the church fail to complete its mission by trying to build on the wrong foundation. The church also fails to complete the mission when we try to build with the wrong materials. We see Paul reveal this reality for us in 1 Corinthians 3:12-15:
Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
In these verses, we see the Apostle Paul reveal for us a timeless truth and some consequences when it comes to the materials that we use when we attempt to complete the kingdom mission we have been given by God. First, in verse 12, we see the truth that, as followers of Jesus, we have a choice of materials to use to attempt to complete the mission.
And while the truth is that we have a choice of material that we can use to attempt to complete the mission we have been given by God, those choices have consequences. We see Paul reveal this reality for us in verse 13, where he states that each mans work will become evident, for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. The quality of work being done to expand and accomplish the mission of the church will become readily known when Christ returns. Upon Christ’s return, Christ will test and reveal the results and the quality of the churches ministry. Whether or not the mission and the ministry of the church was built upon perishable or imperishable principles will be revealed and made fully known as Jesus Himself will test the quality of the churches attempts to complete God’s kingdom mission.
Paul continues in verse 14 and 15 by revealing for us the two possible consequences that await as a result of the choice of materials we use to complete the mission. First, in verse 14, Paul explains that if any mans work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. Paul’s point here is that enduring ministry results in eternal rewards. Just as imperishable items are able to pass through fire without being destroyed, as Jesus tests the quality of what the church and its members produce through the ministry and mission of the church, what continues to exist or endure after the test will be rewarded and recognized as completing the mission and that they were given.
In contrast to the enduring ministry that results in eternal rewards, Paul states in verse 15 that if any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet as through fire. Paul’s point here is that temporary ministry results in a narrow escape. Paul is revealing for us the reality that as Jesus Himself tests the quality of what the church and its members produce through the ministry and mission of the church, what does not endure but is consumed will result in the church and it’s members experiencing punishment for the poor quality of the churches ministry.
Now you might be here this morning and you may be wondering “what do you mean that Christians and churches will receive punishment by Jesus?” Paul uses the imagery of a person who escapes a burning house to reveal that that while those who choose to leverage poor and perishable principles in an attempt to complete God’s kingdom mission will still experience the eternal relationship with God that they were created for, they will experience the punishment of seeing all of what they attempted to accomplish for God and His kingdom revealed for the poor quality that it was. Their temporary ministry will be exposed for what it truly was-temporary.
So what materials are you using to accomplish the mission that God has given us?
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