3:10 But let each one
take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than
that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this
foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 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.
14 If anyone’s
work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s
work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as
through fire.
My dad always told us when we were kids - "Be sure your
sins will find you out." There are other sayings like "the truth will
eventually come out" and "time will tell". These various sayings
are based on the same idea - time has a way of bringing hidden things or
misunderstood things out into the open. For example, two contractors are
building houses. One believes that blown in insulation in the attic is the best
way to keep heat from escaping through the roof. The other contractor believes
in doing it a different way. They often chat about it between themselves,
discussing the pros and cons of each system. While they both admit there are
some advantages to the way the other does it, each is convinced that his way is
best. They teach their workers to do it their way. They convince their
customers that their way I'd better, each believing they are telling the truth.
A new builder comes into the area and he has a different way
of insulating. His method seems innovative and he gains a following. People in
the community and in the building industry become involved in this debate over
which is better.
It's possible one of the three techniques is better. It's
possible all three are equal in the end. What is true is that none of the
houses will fall down or be uninhabitable because the insulation in the ceiling
wasn't "the best". What is also true is that none of the builders are
bad builders or bad people because they honestly believed something that was
wrong.
Corinth has had the benefit of multiple pastor/teachers. Each
had differences in their message, perhaps in technique, lifestyle, dress, diet,
content, emphasis, etc... That wasn't the problem. The problem was the people
divided over it. They formed lines and fought about it. Maybe there were long
skirt Christians in Corinth or head covered Christians or vegetarian Christians
or whatever. The differences became everything and the church was being
destroyed.
Here is the point Paul is making. No matter the differences
the foundation is Christ. It may be that some of the stuff added to the
foundation was really good and time will prove it. In eternity it will be fully
understood why it was good and the blessings and benefit that came from it. It
may also be seen in the light of eternity that some of their teachings were not
beneficial and caused loss, not gain.
But did you catch the crazy part?
15 If anyone’s work is
burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through
fire.
Religion teaches you can't make a mistake and be saved. The
root of that thinking is that we save ourselves by our correctness. That
foundation is not Christ. Paul is teaching truth that for some of us is
radical. If our dependence and foundation is Christ our mistakes and wrong
views, even harmful views will be purified by fire in the end but we will come
from that "fire" refined and beautiful, washed in the blood of the
Lamb.
Why do we fight? Why do we draw lines? Why do we part ways
and start new churches? Is not Christ our common foundation? Is not the rest
immaterial in comparison?
All three of those contractors built good homes. They all
desired the same thing. They all intended warm, comfortable homes that were
easy to heat. They just saw different ways of achieving that result. All three
will still be builders after time exposes which technique if any was best.
Could it be that the root of most fights in the body of
Christ is self-obsession that finds security in our correctness rather than in
Jesus?
We will all be found lacking in some ways when Jesus comes
and that lack will have cost us and the cause of Christ but we will still be
His. Where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more. The Foundation can't be
destroyed so let's make sure He is our Foundation.
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