What practical steps help us avoid building with "wood, hay, or straw"? The Solid Foundation 1 Corinthians 3:11 reminds us, “For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ”. Before we talk about materials, we settle this: everything rises or falls on Christ Himself. What Wood, Hay, and Straw Look Like • Human pride and ego-driven ministry (cf. Jeremiah 17:5) • Works done for applause, not God’s glory (Matthew 6:1–2) • Doctrine shaped by culture instead of Scripture (2 Timothy 4:3) • Service done in the flesh rather than in the Spirit (Galatians 3:3) • Short-term fixes that ignore eternal fruit (Luke 12:20–21) Choosing Gold, Silver, Precious Stones: Practical Steps • Align every plan with Scripture “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). ‒ Schedule regular, deep Bible study (2 Timothy 2:15). ‒ Test ideas, methods, and motives against clear biblical teaching. • Abide in the Spirit’s power “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). ‒ Begin tasks with yielded prayer. ‒ Expect His fruit—love, joy, peace, etc. (Galatians 5:22-23)—as the true evidence of success. • Serve from love, not image “If I have… faith so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2). ‒ Let compassion, not visibility, determine where you invest time. ‒ Quiet, unseen acts often carry eternal weight (Matthew 6:3-4). • Pursue holiness and obedience “Be holy in all you do” (1 Peter 1:15). ‒ Cut out hidden sin quickly (Hebrews 12:1). ‒ Choose integrity in finances, relationships, and media intake. • Invest in people, not programs “What you have heard from me… entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2). ‒ Disciple one or two consistently. ‒ Build families and marriages; they outlast trends. • Practice accountability and humility “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21). ‒ Invite correction from mature believers. ‒ Confess failures quickly; resist self-promotion. • Keep the Day of Testing in view “Each one’s work will become evident, because the Day will bring it to light” (1 Corinthians 3:13). ‒ Meditate on the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). ‒ Store treasures in heaven, not earth (Matthew 6:19-21). Encouragement to Press On God supplies both the blueprint and the building materials. As we cling to Christ, walk by His Spirit, and let His word govern every decision, our labor becomes “gold, silver, precious stones” prepared to shine forever when the fire tests what we have built. |
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