building on the foundation of Christ

Good morning sisters and brothers,
Yesterday Paul began talking about human leaders in the community and how some people were letting loyalty to one leader versus another cause division in the church. He used the image of field workers and builders for the leaders' work in building up the church. Here he develops that image further. The building's foundation is Jesus Christ and the builder/leader builds on it to the best of his or her ability. Judgment Day (as well as the smaller crises) will test the building to see if it is well built. If it is the building will survive and the builder will be rewarded. Paul doesn't want the community to forget that they are not just any building, but God's holy temple.

He continues by reminding people not to boast about their wisdom or their leaders, because God doesn't care about our worldly knowledge as much as about our faithfulness. We're not called to rely on our wisdom or on our leaders. Instead we are called to rely on our foundation, Jesus Christ. By leaning on Jesus, we can do anything.

God bless,
Sam


1 Corinthians 3:11-23

11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ. 12Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13the work of each builder will become visible, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each has done. 14If what has been built on the foundation survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15If the work is burned up, the builder will suffer loss; the builder will be saved, but only as through fire.


16Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.


18Do not deceive yourselves. If you think that you are wise in this age, you should become fools so that you may become wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” 20and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” 21So let no one boast about human leaders. For all things are yours, 22whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all belong to you, 23and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.