- 1 Corinthians 3:4 - For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
- 1 Corinthians 3:5 - Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
- 1 Corinthians 3:6 - I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
- 1 Corinthians 3:7 - So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
- 1 Corinthians 3:8 - Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
- 1 Corinthians 3:9 - For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
- 1 Corinthians 3:10 - According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
- 1 Corinthians 3:11 - For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 3:12 - Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
- 1 Corinthians 3:13 - Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
- 1 Corinthians 3:14 - If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
- 1 Corinthians 3:15 - If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
- Matthew 6:3 - But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
- Matthew 6:4 - That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
Our reward is not something we earn through our own efforts. Our true joy lies in living a life based on Christ. Paul was writing to a divided church. The Corinthians were taking sides with their favorite teachers: one said, 'I follow Paul,' another, 'I follow Apollos,' as if the Gospel belonged to one of these teachers. Paul gently corrects them, explaining how service in the Kingdom of God is carried out using an agricultural example: Paul planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. In other words, the servants themselves have no superiority. The foundation is Christ, and every faithful life is built upon Him. Following this conversation comes one of the most striking descriptions in Scripture. Paul says that each of us is building something using the opportunities God has given us. One day, the quality of this work will be tested by fire. Some work will remain like gold, silver, and precious stones, while other work will burn away like straw. The purpose of the fire here is not to punish, but to reveal the true value of the work. This is a picture of hope, not fear. It means that small, hidden, and faithful deeds—prayers that no one else hears, kindnesses that no one else notices—are not lost; they remain eternal. The believer's reward is not a prize earned by good works. It is the joy of seeing that a life devoted to Christ, whatever form it may take, was not in vain. Whatever you are building today, build it on Christ, for He is the sure foundation.
Reflection
How do you demonstrate that Christ is the foundation of your life? What small step can you take today to trust Christ in your unseen but faithful service?
