What actions should we take to avoid being "stubble" in God's judgment? The Sobering Picture of Stubble Malachi 4:1: “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; the day is coming that will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of Hosts, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.” 1 Corinthians 3:12–15: “If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.” God’s judgment exposes anything flimsy. Stubble represents lives and works that cannot stand the test of divine fire. Root Causes That Reduce Lives to Stubble • Shallow foundations—professing Christ without resting on Him alone (Matthew 7:26–27). • Self-focused motives—serving to impress others rather than to honor God (Matthew 6:1). • Neglect of Scripture—ignoring the only word that endures forever (Isaiah 40:8). • Willful disobedience—refusing light already received (James 4:17). • Worldly conformity—letting culture, not Christ, shape priorities (Romans 12:2). Positive Steps to Build With What Endures • Center every work on the person and finished work of Jesus Christ. He alone is the “foundation already laid” (1 Corinthians 3:11). • Choose eternal materials—acts born of faith, hope, and love (1 Corinthians 13:13). • Serve in the Spirit’s power, not mere human energy (Galatians 5:16). • Pursue holiness; purity adds fire-proof quality to deeds (Hebrews 12:14). • Cultivate humility; God exalts what man overlooks (1 Peter 5:5–6). Practical Daily Habits • Word Saturation – Read, meditate, and memorize; let truth renew thinking (Psalm 1:2). • Honest Prayer – Ask the Spirit to search motives and redirect anything that drifts toward self (Psalm 139:23–24). • Faith-Expressing Obedience – Act promptly on what Scripture reveals; obedience hardens gold into place (Luke 11:28). • Loving Service – Invest in people: share the gospel, disciple believers, care for the needy (Matthew 25:40). • Eternal Accounting – Evaluate plans by their lasting impact; will this matter at the judgment seat of Christ? (2 Corinthians 5:10). Encouragement From Other Scriptures • Psalm 1:3–4—The righteous are “like a tree planted by streams,” but the wicked “are like chaff that the wind blows away.” • Isaiah 33:14–15—Only those who “walk righteously and speak with sincerity” can dwell with consuming fire unscathed. • 1 John 2:17—“The world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God remains forever.” Invest your life in what the fire cannot destroy, and you will stand as refined gold, not scattered stubble, when the Day reveals all. |
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