Building On The Right Foundation

After our salvation (Eph 2:8), we are “all baptized into one body” (1 Cor 12:13), “in Christ” (Rom 12:5). We become “as lively stones” (1 Pet 2:5), that are added to build up a spiritual house; wherein “all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord” (Eph 2:21). Our primary task in the ministry is to be “labourers together with God” (v. 9), which involves working in the construction and growth of His spiritual building!

With the Spirit now dwelling in our bodies as “the temple of God,” He gives us spiritual gifts (Rom 12:6), to help grow His building! He also matches our particular gifts with the specific needs of the ministry (1 Cor 12:7). Therefore, we should always do our very best for God’s glory, in the way He wants us to do it! Paul’s role “as a wise masterbuilder” (v. 10), was to lay the foundation so that another can build thereon. One day, all our work “shall be revealed by fire” (v. 13), at “the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Cor 5:10). Some build upon “this foundation gold, silver, precious stones” (v. 12a), just like in the Tabernacle (Ex 35:5, 9).

Others use “wood, hay, stubble” (v. 12b), like those used in building Pharaoh’s cities (Ex 5:7). We only have one life to live (Heb 9:27). Let us strive to build upon the foundation of gold, silver, and precious stones of God’s word (Ps 19:10), God’s wisdom (Prov 16:16), and God’s gifts (Prov 17:8). Let’s not build our lives with the inferior materials of wood, hay, and stubble of human tradition (Col 2:8), materialism (Ecc 5:10), and worldly wisdom (v. 19). Because they will not last! Our work is not done until the Lord takes us home in glory. But we must finish our “course with joy” (Acts 20:24). One day, Jesus shall reward us for how well we built His building (Mt 25:23), and not how big we built our ministries! God bless you!

- Pastor Melito Barrera