Our Works (1 Corinthians 3:12-15)

"For if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one's work will be made manifest; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If anyone's work that he has built on this part remains, he will receive a reward." The context here is the believer's works of service. Everything we do in service to the Lord will be reviewed. The point here in this passage is that just because a thing is done for Him does not necessarily mean it is approved by Him! There is much in Christian profession today that is being done for God, but unfortunately, it is not of God. He is not the author of it. And He could not even be, since it is contrary to Him and to the principles of His Word.

Paul told Timothy that the worker in the house of God must "compete legitimately" in order to obtain his crown (2 Tim. 2:5). We do this by working according to the principles of the Word of God. If we use carnal methods and human devices to achieve results, that cannot be rewarded (2 Cor. 10:4). The great pressure in Christian service today is to obtain results – visible results. This becomes a great temptation to compromise (to obtain a visible result). The danger in Christian service is that we can find ourselves seeking the approval of men and not necessarily the Lord's. We need to ask ourselves seriously, "Whose approval do I want?"

Today, many Christian workers minister in ignorance of God's principles and have no scruples about resorting to carnal principles to attract their audience. Some use rock bands and famous athletes to draw people to the reach of their gospel. Carnal entertainment and things of the sort will attract people. They may be prompted to make a confession of faith, but there may be no real work in their souls. It is a false principle to use the flesh to attract people. It is undoubtedly using the flesh to attract the flesh. At the cross God "condemned sin in the flesh" and does not look for anything good in it (Rom. 8:3). To use the flesh in Christian ministry is to believe that there is still something good in it. Paul said, "For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, nothing good dwells" (Rom. 7:18). Unfortunately, some Christians have not learned this.

This shows that everything we do in His service "will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done" (1 Cor. 3:13). I fear that not much will remain after passing through the fire. This reminds me of a dream I heard that C. H. Brown had. He dreamed that he was standing before the judgment seat of Christ, and he saw piles of works that he recognized as those he had done for the Lord. There was an angel there with a large torch, and he was applying the flame to one of the piles. Mr. Brown was horrified when he saw the pile reduced to ashes. Then he saw the angel take his torch to another pile, and Brother Brown thought, "There goes that one too!" But at that moment, the angel turned to him and said, "Don't worry, Brown, we'll find something here!"