The Wise Builder
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Context
With a population of 400,000 and being a prominent center of commerce in the Mediterranean world, it was a place for all sorts of vice. An example of its immorality was found in the temple of Venus (Aphrodite), which hosted 1000 priestesses dedicated to prostitution in the name of religion. The city's close proximity to the city of Athens probably added the problem of intellectualism. As noticed in the epistle, such an environment had its effect upon the church in Corinth. It is amazing that a church existed at all in such a city.
Theme 1Corinthians 1:10
Brief Outline
PROBLEMS REPORTED BY THE HOUSE OF CHLOE (1Cr 1:10-6:20)
FACTIONS IN THE CHURCH (1Cr 1:1-4:21)
SEXUAL IMMORALITY (1Cr 5:1-13)
LAWSUITS AMONG BRETHREN (1Cr 6:1-11)
MORAL DEFILEMENTS (1Cr 6:12-20)
PROBLEMS MENTIONED IN THE LETTER FROM CORINTH
(1Cr 7:1-16:9)MARRIAGE & CELIBACY
EATING MEATS SACRIFICED TO IDOLS (1Cr 8:1-11:1)
(1Cr 7:1-40)EATING MEATS SACRIFICED TO IDOLS
WOMEN PRAYING AND PROPHESYING WITH HEADS UNCOVERED (1Cr 11:2-16)
(1Cr 8:1-11:1)WOMEN PRAYING AND PROPHESYING WITH HEADS UNCOVERED
THE LORD'S SUPPER (1Cr 11:17-34)
(1Cr 11:2-16)THE LORD'S SUPPER
SPIRITUAL GIFTS (1Cr 12:1-14:40)
(1Cr 11:17-34)SPIRITUAL GIFTS
(1Cr 12:1-14:40)RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD
RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD (1Cr 15:1-58)
COLLECTION FOR THE SAINTS (1Cr 16:1-4)
(1Cr 15:1-58)COLLECTION FOR THE SAINTS (1Cr 16:1-4)
Brief Outline
Only A Solid Foundation and Quality Materials Can Build a Holy Temple and Bring a Lasting Reward.
Only A Solid Foundation and Quality Materials Can Build a Holy Temple and Bring a Lasting Reward.
PROBLEMS REPORTED BY THE HOUSE OF CHLOE (1Cr 1:10-6:20)FACTIONS IN THE CHURCH (1Cr 1:1-4:21)SEXUAL IMMORALITY (1Cr 5:1-13)LAWSUITS AMONG BRETHREN (1Cr 6:1-11)MORAL DEFILEMENTS (1Cr 6:12-20)PROBLEMS MENTIONED IN THE LETTER FROM CORINTH (1Cr 7:1-16:9)MARRIAGE & CELIBACY (1Cr 7:1-40)EATING MEATS SACRIFICED TO IDOLS (1Cr 8:1-11:1)WOMEN PRAYING AND PROPHESYING WITH HEADS UNCOVERED (1Cr 11:2-16)THE LORD'S SUPPER (1Cr 11:17-34)SPIRITUAL GIFTS (1Cr 12:1-14:40)RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD (1Cr 15:1-58)COLLECTION FOR THE SAINTS (1Cr 16:1-4)
According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 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. 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.
1Corinthians 3:10-15
How do you build wisely? How do you live wisely?
How do you build wisely? How do you live wisely?
Starts with a Solid Foundation
Starts with a Solid Foundation
Believe and Trust in Jesus
According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
There is only one foundation upon which any person can stand. Paul tells them, they are divided, but He laid the foundtion of Jesus Christ. They make claims to I follow Paul, I follow Appolos, but Paul sets the after straight. It is by God’s grace and His alone that they are saved. Paul planted, Apollos is watering, but God brings growth.
Following Paul didn’t save, following Appolos didn’t save, Following God saves. Only Jesus.
Every person will be help accountable for the life they live. Paul describes it as by fire, and Christ is the only thing that will last.
“On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.”
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,
Nothing that lasts can be built on any other foundation.
Nothing built on any other foundation can bring God glory.
There are different materials on which you can build, but only one foundation upon which you can build.
Use Quality Material
Use Quality Material
Appolos was going to be held accountable for how He build on the foundation, but also, they were! And there was a mess going on In that church.
Give God your best, not your leftovers.
Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 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.
(TNTC 1 Co): 12. But if there can be only one foundation it is otherwise with the superstructure. It is all too possible for astonishing varieties to make their appearance. Paul lists several materials which may be used for building, and ingenuity has sometimes been exercised in trying to find edifying meanings for them all. Such labour is probably in vain, for Paul seems concerned simply with two classes, the valuable, typified by gold, silver, costly stones, and the worthless, the wood, hay or straw. The workman may try to make the building as worthy of the foundation as possible. Or, in slovenly fashion, he may be content to put into it that which costs him little or nothing. Costly stones may be ‘precious stones’ used for ornamentation, or costly building materials, like marble
But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
Again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go, number Israel and Judah.” So the king said to Joab, the commander of the army, who was with him, “Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and number the people, that I may know the number of the people.” But Joab said to the king, “May the Lord your God add to the people a hundred times as many as they are, while the eyes of my lord the king still see it, but why does my lord the king delight in this thing?” But the king’s word prevailed against Joab and the commanders of the army. So Joab and the commanders of the army went out from the presence of the king to number the people of Israel. They crossed the Jordan and began from Aroer, and from the city that is in the middle of the valley, toward Gad and on to Jazer. Then they came to Gilead, and to Kadesh in the land of the Hittites; and they came to Dan, and from Dan they went around to Sidon, and came to the fortress of Tyre and to all the cities of the Hivites and Canaanites; and they went out to the Negeb of Judah at Beersheba. So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to the king: in Israel there were 800,000 valiant men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were 500,000.
But David’s heart struck him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O Lord, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly.” And when David arose in the morning, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying, “Go and say to David, ‘Thus says the Lord, Three things I offer you. Choose one of them, that I may do it to you.’ ” So Gad came to David and told him, and said to him, “Shall three years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days’ pestilence in your land? Now consider, and decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me.” Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man.”
So the Lord sent a pestilence on Israel from the morning until the appointed time. And there died of the people from Dan to Beersheba 70,000 men. And when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord relented from the calamity and said to the angel who was working destruction among the people, “It is enough; now stay your hand.” And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. Then David spoke to the Lord when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and said, “Behold, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand be against me and against my father’s house.”
And Gad came that day to David and said to him, “Go up, raise an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” So David went up at Gad’s word, as the Lord commanded. And when Araunah looked down, he saw the king and his servants coming on toward him. And Araunah went out and paid homage to the king with his face to the ground. And Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” David said, “To buy the threshing floor from you, in order to build an altar to the Lord, that the plague may be averted from the people.” Then Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take and offer up what seems good to him. Here are the oxen for the burnt offering and the threshing sledges and the yokes of the oxen for the wood. All this, O king, Araunah gives to the king.” And Araunah said to the king, “May the Lord your God accept you.” But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. And David built there an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord responded to the plea for the land, and the plague was averted from Israel.
We must build with material that is worthy of the foundation.
The Corinthians were living in a way that was inconsistent with the foundation! The foundation was there, they were saved, but they weren’t glorifying God. They building thier life or thier church in a way that was divisive, sinful..to use Paul’s analogy with cheap materials.
Build your life in a manner worthy of foundation!
If I’m building a house and I spend thousands of dollars in the foundation, I’m not going throw something together on top of it.
The building should reflect the foundation!
Gold, silver, precious stones, vs wood, hay, and straw.
It means, if nothing else, that which is costly, rare, and expensive. Giving to God that which costs us. Our first and foremost, not our leftovers.
The judgement will not be whether a person is saved or unsaved, but whether we have been wise, or unwise builders.
What determines the quality? Atleast 3 things:
1. Was it aligned with His word?
1. Was it aligned with His word?
2. Was it with the right attitude?
2. Was it with the right attitude?
Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
Paul says I do this willingly, for Christ’s sake, not my own.
2
For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;
We stand on this foundation by the grace of God, and that is what motivates us!
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
and the Lord tests hearts.
What does even coming to church mean to you? Why do you come? Because it what your parent did, its how you were brought up?
How often do we say well I guess I’ll do it because somebody has to do it.
3. What was your ability?
3. What was your ability?
When we give to God our first and best, according to what we have.
And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
What you bring to God should cost you something.
When you give to God, to you give the best of what you have or just what you have left?
There is a way to give, and actually not be giving anything. When you give money for tithe or offering, is the question what the least I can give and maintain my lifestyle. Or, when you look for opportunities to serve, do we say, “After I do all the things I want to do, make time for my plans, I’ll see what I can do left.”
When's the last time you did something that scared you for God? Or gave untill it hurt?
You see, I think that when we just give to God our leftover time, leftover money, even coming to church and not giving him Monday-Saturday, is not a sacrifice.
Everyday, daily activities are seen as building.
They are good things, but I don’t know they glorify God. If you’re married, you don’t find time for your spouse, you make time for your spouse, and you find time for everything else.
Your walk with God shouold not ask what can I keep, but what can I give? And then you may say, well when is it too much?
Application:
Do somethihng for God which scares you. Do something for God which makes you uncomfortable.
Give more money than you think you can. Or
Find a way to give more money for God and His kingdom, even if you have to sacrifice something you love.
Find a way to give more time to God, serving in the church, in the community, at your job..even if it means less time in sports, hobbies, entertainment, good things.
Turn your job into your ministry. Start a prayer group. Find one person at your job who isn’t a believer and pray for them untill God saves them. Have more gospel conversations. I’m not saying change your job..I’m saying you have change in your job!
Stop putting God in one part of your life, or on Sunday..give Him all of it! Coming to church is a good thing, but God is not glorified when you sing songs on Sunday, and are gossiping on Monday. Or cussing somebody out, or can’t find time to pray and read your bible. Hear me! We have to stop bringing God our leftovers and calling it a sacrifice.
At somepoint we have to stop asking God and the church to fit our schedule, and change our schedule to prioritize his pleasure!
Now what are we constructing? A Holy Temple.
Construct a Holy Temple
Construct a Holy Temple
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
So not only is it referring to the corporate body of belivers as Church, but we ourselves. That God is both building us up individually and corporately into a Holy Temple.
The temple symbolizes the place where the glory of God dwells and rests! So the beauty of our work, the value in it, is in whether it glorifies God. God wants to be glorified in your life! God wants to be glorified in our church.
So when we bring to God our best..He is glorified! But when we are content with a life that keeps God here on one day, or in one part of our life or another..we steal His glory. We take that which is due Him, and we keep it for ourselves! And so we can’t be upset when we don’t see or feel the presence of God in our lives when we haven’t made our lives, our jobs, our money, our marriages..for His glory!
And David the king said to all the assembly, “Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is young and inexperienced, and the work is great, for the palace will not be for man but for the Lord God. So I have provided for the house of my God, so far as I was able, the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things of silver, and the bronze for the things of bronze, the iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, besides great quantities of onyx and stones for setting, antimony, colored stones, all sorts of precious stones and marble. Moreover, in addition to all that I have provided for the holy house, I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, and because of my devotion to the house of my God I give it to the house of my God: 3,000 talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and 7,000 talents of refined silver, for overlaying the walls of the house, and for all the work to be done by craftsmen, gold for the things of gold and silver for the things of silver. Who then will offer willingly, consecrating himself today to the Lord?”
Then the leaders of fathers’ houses made their freewill offerings, as did also the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the officers over the king’s work. They gave for the service of the house of God 5,000 talents and 10,000 darics of gold, 10,000 talents of silver, 18,000 talents of bronze and 100,000 talents of iron. And whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the Lord, in the care of Jehiel the Gershonite. Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.
Paul’s analogy, the material would bring one thing to the memory of the people. Probably one of the greatest marvel’s of human creation. Solomon’s temple
1Corinthins 3:16
And David the king said to all the assembly, “Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is young and inexperienced, and the work is great, for the palace will not be for man but for the Lord God. So I have provided for the house of my God, so far as I was able, the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things of silver, and the bronze for the things of bronze, the iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, besides great quantities of onyx and stones for setting, antimony, colored stones, all sorts of precious stones and marble. Moreover, in addition to all that I have provided for the holy house, I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, and because of my devotion to the house of my God I give it to the house of my God: 3,000 talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and 7,000 talents of refined silver, for overlaying the walls of the house, and for all the work to be done by craftsmen, gold for the things of gold and silver for the things of silver. Who then will offer willingly, consecrating himself today to the Lord?”
Then the leaders of fathers’ houses made their freewill offerings, as did also the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the officers over the king’s work. They gave for the service of the house of God 5,000 talents and 10,000 darics of gold, 10,000 talents of silver, 18,000 talents of bronze and 100,000 talents of iron. And whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the Lord, in the care of Jehiel the Gershonite. Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.
What do we see? We see David the king giving gold, silver, precious stones..why? Because this was not man’s temple, but God’s. His God deserved the best! And not only did give gold and silver and stones as king for this temple, but He gave from his own personal treasure! You see that, He didn’t just give the Kingdom’s reaches, he gave his own. Which he says he gave out of devotion! He gave with the right attitude, it was aligned with what God asked him, and he offered His best. Becuase it was his pleasure and desire to please and glorify God. So we see both points..David gave what was costly for Him, from a heart of love for God! And God was glorified..and the people were thus compelled themselves to give.
Our lives are to be for the building up of God’s kingdom, His Church, andto bring Him glory.
What are you building your life with? Is your life something which brings or steals Gods glory?
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Our life and work..not just Sunday but everything should be about bringing God glory! When people talk to you, they should see and experience God.
Most of the time we ask ourselves, how close can I get to the line without crossing it? Don’t just ask yourself is God ok with it? Ask yourself does it glorify Him?
Lasting Reward
Lasting Reward
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.
Now if you are looking for what specifically will be tested, and what those valuable things are, the text isn’t too specific Here, but there are some biblical truths which I think apply.
Gold- Devotion- David! Do what we do for the praise and glory of God. Time in our word. Our hearts desire for Him! Simply, God is going to test how much we truly loved and treasured Him. John Piper says, “God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in Him!” That the more we are satisfied, treasure God, God is gloried. That relfects in our bible time, that which we give, etc. It God tested your devotion to HIm, of what quality do you think it would be?
Silver- The Words of Our Mouth.
A word fitly spoken
is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.
I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
If God tested and weighted out the words of our mouth, would they be glorifying? For the building up of His kingdom? or would they be worthless? More ash?
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Precious Stone- Our Prayer Life
Exodus
“You shall make a breastpiece of judgment, in skilled work. In the style of the ephod you shall make it—of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen shall you make it. It shall be square and doubled, a span its length and a span its breadth. You shall set in it four rows of stones. A row of sardius, topaz, and carbuncle shall be the first row; and the second row an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond; and the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; and the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be set in gold filigree. There shall be twelve stones with their names according to the names of the sons of Israel. They shall be like signets, each engraved with its name, for the twelve tribes.
This was to be worn by the Highpriest, which symbolized God’s judgment, God’s guidance, and being on the chest God’s heart for the people. But the highpriest, thier job was to enter the Holy of Holy’s and intercede and pray on behalf of the people.
That is why, the precious stones here to seem to point to our prayer life. And as God will test our devotion, our words, I think he will test our prayers.
The reward can only be an eschatological “prize” (; cf. ). Whatever its precise nature, its essence is “praise from God” (4:5). We may compare Jesus’ promise in the parables of the Bags of Gold in Matthew and the Ten Minas in Luke: “well done, good and faithful servant!… Come and share your master’s happiness” (, ; cf. ). In both cases the reward for faithful service is the master’s pleasure and his confidence, which leads to a further entrusting of responsibility.
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
You know what the prize is? The essense of it it to see our Father pleased!
Clarence- Fear of God
I gave it everything I had. I didn’t just give my leftovers but my best!
Start with the Foundation! If you don’t know Jesus you must start there. Be sure. Know that you know that you know.
Start with the Foundation! If you don’t know Jesus you must start there. Be sure. Know that you know that you know.
Start to give God your first and your best! Build a life worthy of that foundation!
Start to give God your first and your best! Build a life worthy of that foundation!
Don’t do what God has called someone else to do! Do what God has called you to do!
Don’t do what God has called someone else to do! Do what God has called you to do!
Do something that scares you for God!
If something has to go, don’t let it be your time with God.
Find somewhere to serve in your local church! Notice, he doesn’t say, well done my good and faithful preacher, or teacher, or lawyer, or doctor..but if you are aiming to please God, you need to serve. And not just at home for your house, but for God’s house. Not just for what you care about, but in things that God care about.
Seek first God! Grow In your devotional and prayer life!
Seek first God! Grow In your devotional and prayer life!
Check your heart! Even in obeying God, what are your motives? Can you serve with a smile on y9ur face?
Check your heart! Even in obeying God, what are your motives? Can you serve with a smile on y9ur face?
Start praying for God to help you with your words. Cussing, gossping, complaining, anger. Pray that God would help your words to be like fine silver that build up the kingdom of God.
Start praying for God to help you with your words. Cussing, gossping, complaining, anger. Pray that God would help your words to be like fine silver that build up the kingdom of God.
Start asking the question, not is this wrong, but does it bring God’s glory? Truth is, brining God glory isn’t about getting as close to the line as you ca without crossing it..its about getting as far away From sin and as close to God as you can. Ask yourself, is the way I am spending my money brining God glory? Is the way I talk to y mainly and coworkers brining God glory? Are my conversations pointing others to God?
Start asking the question, not is this wrong, but does it bring God’s glory? Truth is, brining God glory isn’t about getting as close to the line as you ca without crossing it..its about getting as far away From sin and as close to God as you can. Ask yourself, is the way I am spending my money brining God glory? Is the way I talk to y mainly and coworkers brining God glory? Are my conversations pointing others to God?
Live for that reward! “To hear him say, well done!” I love you church, but I don’t preach to hear people say good job! I love my mom and my dad, and I am grateful for thier prayers and support, and I hope to live a life that they would be proud of, but can I tell you something? I am living for God to be pleased!
Live for that reward! “To hear him say, well done!” I love you church, but I don’t preach to hear people say good job! I love my mom and my dad, and I am grateful for thier prayers and support, and I hope to live a life that they would be proud of, but can I tell you something? I am living for God to be pleased!
