Build Where Christ Is Building

"Each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. (1 Corinthians 3:13)

Paul in 1 Corinthians 3 is dealing with an issue that was dividing the church with people preferring one leader over another. We see this at play every day. People tend to idolize leaders whether they be political figures or religious men. They "can kill" in order to "defend the honour" of their role model.

But Paul does something many leaders do not do today. He does not allow people who admired him to make much of him. He shows them that neither he, nor Peter, nor Apollos are the centre of their life. Jesus is. He shows them that he and the rest of the leaders they were comparing and fighting for were mere servants of the same God. 

And as mere servants, God gave each one of them a role to play in building His people, the church. God gave each of them a specific set of skills and grace to accomplish what He wanted them to accomplish. No two of them were the same. And each one was supposed to run the race which was set before him without looking at what the other was doing. Each one of them had to be careful that they followed God's masterplan. Doing that would guarantee a reward.

You see, you cannot receive the reward if you build your service with gossip, division, selfishness, greed, a self-serving, self aggrandizement attitude and pride among many vices. Earlier on Paul had indicated that he did everything by the grace given him. It was not by any strength of his own but by God's enablement. The same God who helped Paul to be a skillful master builder, helped Peter to be a skillful master builder as well. It is God who perfected each man's work.

It is important to know that God gives us the materials we should use to build His people. And if we remain faithful to Him and depend on Him, the results will come from Him. Paul said he planted and Apollos watered but it is God who gave the increase. It is God who makes things happen. Many have planted and many have watered, but if what is planted and watered is not of God, there will be no growth. Be careful therefore about how you build your work because whatever it is you're building on will be made manifest on the last day.

"If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.  If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire." (1 Corinthians 3:14-15)

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About The Author:

Pastor Sam Machacka is co-founder of Brink Ministries Southern Africa. A wonderful colleague and good friend. Equipping Pastors and Church leaders in Southern Africa. He grew up in Harare, Zimbabwe with his beautiful wife Mildred and they are blessed with three lovely children namely Samantha, Munashe and Joshua but they are now serving as missionaries in Malawi since August 2018

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