Read 1 Corinthians 3:10-23. If the first three big buts of this chapter cut to the heart of the matter of divisiveness in the church at Corinth, the next couple provide warnings.
By the grace of God given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds.
Materials and the manner in which one builds are called to question. Reading this passage this week has caused me to think of the horrors in Haiti, result of the recent earthquake and aftershocks there. One of the certain contributors to the huge loss of life is the fact that there are no building regulations there--materials and manner of building left to chance. Paul, here, contrasts temporal versus eternal; perishable versus imperishable.
Notice Paul's choice of phrase: Do you not know? Do not deceive yourselves!
The second but in this passage is rather curious. If (what a man has built) is burned up, he will suffer loss, he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through flames.
What do you suppose Paul meant by that? Some scholars have determined this to mean that the believer who has foolishly (or otherwise wrongly) built into the lives of others will be saved, but lose out on some precious rewards. Others have argued over whether this is a statement on eternal security. I've been wondering in a very different direction this week.
Over the years I've had a few friends who have, quite literally, escaped through flames--their homes being destroyed by fire. One of the most painful consequences is having "lost everything." Pictures. Memories. Heirlooms. Prized possessions. Gone.
I wonder if Paul has painted a picture for us of what it would be like to wake up in the Lord's presence and realize that the things you had poured your energy into and that you were so passionate about during your life were reduced to ashes, and worse--they were not meaningful to the Lord. Because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire.
Don't you know? Do not be deceived! Now those words seem very fitting, don't they?
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