It is obvious that there were divisions in the church in Corinth. People were comparing themselves to one another. They were following different individuals who had help plant the church. The Apostle Paul wrote to these people and told them that wasn’t what they needed to focus on. Their focus was building together on what the found fathers had built as a foundation for the church. Paul writes:
10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire (1 Corinthians 3:1–15 [ESV]).
Later in this letter — specifically chapter 12 — the Apostle Paul lays out the whole concept of spiritual gifts. Here he challenges his readers to build faithfully on that foundation he helped lay. If we work where the Holy Spirit has placed us in His kingdom — whether in the most obvious “important” place or the most “insignificant” one — there will be a precious rewards waiting for us when we reach heaven.
Whether you teach God’s Word from the pulpit on a Sunday morning or greet people as they enter your building if you are being deployed by the Holy Spirit according to your gifting and grace you are doing a great work for God. A recent study shows that a visitor to your church decides whether to come back to your fellowship within 10 minutes of setting foot on your property. What does that tell us… It tells us that the following are the most important people in your church:
— Those who mow your lawns and care for the flower beds around your church.
— Those who greet on Sunday mornings.
— Those who brew the coffee.
— Those that greet parents dropping their children off at classes.
Yup, it’s not the worship team or the pastor, it’s those above that welcome those to your ministry. Whatever we do for the kingdom, God will bless now and for eternity. So the next time you wonder if you are making a difference — YOU ARE! Stay the course and there will be a prize waiting you when you step into heaven. Looking forward to celebrating with you.
God bless!
Sixty-six books in a year 