TESTING EACH PERSON’S WORK
Back to the matter of Paul and the preacher who followed him, Apollos. Flattering as it may seem, when Paul hears that some in the church are saying, “I am of Paul,” and another says, “I am of Apollos,” what Paul hears is a bunch of immature groupies, regardless of whose group they are in. Do they not see? It is Christ whom they should be following. He’s the one who brings life. Paul very clearly sees it, and calls it out. The church is built on the foundation of Jesus Christ, not of any human.
That’s when Paul uses an illustration that I really like. Each worker builds with some material—gold, silver, gems, wood, hay, straw. Then he says,
“their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.”
Each person’s work will go through fire. Every one. Through fire. I always imagined “the Day” to be the coming Day of Judgment, when God will show with what material each person’s work was built. And I still believe that to be true. But actually, I think the testing by fire comes much sooner.
Having been in ministry for some decades now, I see the fire coming to each person’s work. You can be flashy and make a great first impression on your town, but what is left of your work when you are gone?
This is the test of fire that everyone’s work will go through. May your life’s work stand the test, and Jesus be the final word of all you do. Amen.
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