10By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13their 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. 14If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames (1 Corinthians 3:10-15).
Paul writes that each of us is building something with our lives (v. 10). He reminds us to build with care. All labor in the Kingdom of God is built on the foundation of an intimate relationship with Christ. Good works completed outside of a relationship with Christ are just wood, hay, and stubble—they have no lasting value. The quality of the building materials depends on the motives of the deeds done. Some things are significant about this passage of scripture, the first being that Christ will bring out into the open every reason and every act:
For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open (Luke 8:17).
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4:13).
John Bevere, in his book, Driven by Eternity, writes:
"Many have the erroneous idea that all future judgment is eradicated by their salvation. Indeed, Jesus' blood cleanses us from the sins that would have kept us from the kingdom. However, it does not exempt us from the judgment of how we conducted ourselves as believers, whether good or bad."[1]
At last, all will be made known. We will find out the great mysteries of this life. Nothing will be hidden anymore. We shouldn't take this just in the negative, for there are acts of kindness done in secret before men, but God has seen the motive of our hearts and will reward us openly (Matthew 6:4). Some of you have labored in a job that you hate to give generously to the work of reaching men for Christ and sacrificially cared for the poor and kept it a secret from men. Others have labored for Christ and not been recognized by men, but their labor has been sweet to our God. "…your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:18).
And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward" (Matthew 10:42).
The Lord sees everything we have done for Him, and nothing escapes His attention. The Day will come when we will gain our inheritance, given to us in Christ before time began:
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me' (Matthew 25:34-40).
I find it interesting that the believers forgot the acts of kindness they had done, but God hadn't. He will reward us openly at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Who was He referring to in calling some the least of His brothers? (v. 40). I think it is those around us who are generally not noticed. Perhaps those who cannot help themselves, those sick or in prison. God is close to the poor of this world, those we don't often see, those in bondage to sin but longing for reconciliation with God. He wants to use each of us to set them free, to visit them, and feed them not only bread and water but the Bread of Life too (John 6:35). Keith Thomas
Taken from the Insights into Eternity Series, the study called Preparing for Eternity
[1] John Bevere, Driven by Eternity, Warner Faith Publishers, Page 186.