This message was preached on the 19th and 26th, November 2023
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
Reading:
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.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
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.
14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
INTRODUCTION
This is one of the clear teachings of the Scripture that deals with all Christians. All Christians will be judged by God one day – everyone of us! This judgment we have read about in 1 Corinthians 3 is for believers only – those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ alone for their salvation. We will be judged according to our works – what we have done during our lifetime on this earth.
- We will receive rewards for works we have done that are of lasting value (Gold, Silver, Precious Stones)
- If our works have no lasting value, then we will suffer loss, and receive no rewards (wood, hay, and stubble).
We should use our lifetime on this earth to work to build God’s kingdom and earn Heavenly rewards. We need to keep in mind that the judgment day is coming to motivate us to do the works that have eternal or lasting value.
Today, I want to speak to you about four kinds of work that we spend our lives doing.
1) EVIL WORKS
These are things we do that God doesn’t like. These are sinful works. They are works of darkness. 2 Corinthians 5:10 ‘‘For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.’’
I do believe that God will punish Believers at this judgment for their evil works, but I believe that these ” bad ” or ” worthless” works will be burned up and bring us great shame.
Example of Evil Works
- Gossiping
- Lying
- Seeking revenge — trying to harm someone
- Drunkenness
- Doing drugs – hurting yourself
- Adultery/fornication.
These kinds of works will bring God’s punishment to us on Earth. No rewards will be given in Heaven for doing evil works.
(2)EMPTY WORKS
Empty works are vain or worthless works. These are works that have no profit.
Samuel was a great priest in the Bible, when he was about to die, he instructed the children of Israel, ‘‘And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain’’ 1 Samuel 12:21.
To live our lives doing vain things will not help us or others. It is a waste of our life.
In Psalm 4:2 David said, ‘‘O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah’’
Example of Empty Works
- Most TV programs
- Video games/games on a phone
- Browsing on the internet
- Entertainment (music, games, reading unnecessary books, newspapers, sports)
- Hanging around chatting
NOTE: These are not necessarily wrong things. In moderation, these things can be beneficial. However, we will receive no rewards in Heaven for these kinds of works,
We are admonished in Ephesians 5: 16 to redeem the time, ‘‘Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.’’
Please, I am pleading with you, don’t waste your time and your life on empty works!
Many times, we look back at our lives and say I should have not wasted my time or dwelt on this matter or issue for so long.
(3)EARTHLY WORKS
There are some things we need to do for our lives on this earth to be sustained.
Example of Earthly Works
- Eating
- Bathing
- A person’s profession, vocation, or trade (works we do to earn money)
- Exercise
These are things we MUST do!
‘‘But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.’’ 1 Timothy 5:8.
If a man is able to work, but he doesn’t work to provide for his family – he is an ungodly man. We will not receive rewards because we eat fufu. We will not receive rewards for scoring a goal in a football championship game. We will not receive a reward because we bath every day.
In John 6, Jesus fed 5,000 men (plus their wives and children) with 5 loaves and 2 fishes. Jesus went to another shore on the Sea of Galilee. Many of the men who were fed by Jesus Christ followed Him. We read in John 6: 26-27, ‘‘ 26Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.27Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.’’
1 Corinthians 15:58 ‘‘Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.’’
From your earthly works and earnings, you should pay your tithe and give offerings. Jesus told His disciples, In Matthew 6:19 ‘‘Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:’’
(4) ETERNAL WORKS
There are works that we do that can make eternal impact.
Example of Eternal Works
◼ Lead a soul to believe in Jesus Christ
In John 4:35-36, Jesus said, ‘’35Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. 36And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.’’
◼ Preaching the Gospel
Isaiah 55:11, ‘‘So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.’’
Psalm 126:6, ‘‘He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.’’
◼ Teaching your children (disciple them) in God’s ways
◼ Praying – interceding on behalf of another. We all know how we do remember to pray for all our members who have travelled, whether within the country or outside the country, for God’s guidance, protection, and provision. The Bible admonished us to pray for one another. In doing that, we are obeying our Father in heaven. It will grant us eternal rewards, which means you have done eternal work.
◼ Helping others
Matthew 10:42, ‘‘And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.’’
Jesus also said in Mathew 25:40, ‘‘And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me’’
That is why we believe in the Children’s Ministry in our Church, Motherless Home, and the Prison Ministry. I want you all who read this message to please remember to pray for all these ministries.
CONCLUSION:
Think about standing before Jesus at the judgment.
- How many rewards do you think He will give you?
- What kind of work are you spending your life doing?
May God bless you.
Amen!!!