November 2011
November 2011
Dearly beloved in Christ,
Dearly beloved in Christ,
I am taking a portion from the lectionary, dedicated for the fifth Sunday of October 2011, as the topic for study or meditation in November. The text is found in 1st Cor.3:10-17 based on NIV Bible.
"By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his 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 man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping the flames. Don't you know, that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.''
This building being heavenly, it should be built fitting to that high standard. St Paul says it should withstand all fiery tests: wood, hay or straw cannot stand to the test. Gold, silver and costly stones only will survive to the great test. The ''Day'' is the day of judgment of Jesus Christ when He returns . If the work is on high quality no test needs to be feared. If what he has built survives, he shall receive reward. Nowhere, below the sky, are people awarded when they fail! Think of our whole life’s efforts, burn to ashes at the final test. That hasn’t happen yet. Let us be more serious and conscious, on our dedication and work, at this extended Golden Time we have received, so that we may be eligible for the great reward, the Lord has set apart for us. If the Church, that is, the “believers” are built well in unity, first part of our effort is done.
The second temple, St. Paul refers is the very body of our lives. Each one of us is a small temple in which Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit abides with. Our lives and bodies should be well maintained that the Lord's Spirit will find free and happy to stay in. We should not destroy our temples: our temples are sacred-set apart that only the Lord will be on the throne of our hearts.
The foundation of the Church - of all believers is “Jesus Christ”. Nothing and no one else will do, writes Paul. A building with no foundation, or one poorly constructed, will not last. The finest materials used to construct a home quickly rot and fall apart if they are resting on the ground. And a building is as solid as its foundation. The foundation of our life is Jesus Christ; He is our base, our reason for being. Everything we are and do must fit into the pattern provided by Him.
Are you building your life on the only real lasting foundation?
Or are you building on a fault foundation, such as wealth, health, security, success, or fame?
Let us be careful how we build.
While some have applied these verses(10-17) to personal Spiritual growth, St. Paul's teaching has to do with ministry to others too. What do we do to build others up? Do we build on Christ as foundation? The Corinthians could construct their Church with lasting, eternal teaching or with the changing, temporary wisdom of the day. Paul's words challenge our methods of discipleship. Do we attach ourselves to others, or to Christ for foundation?
Do we use our abilities and Spiritual gifts to build up others in the Church or keep them tied to us?
Do we practice Bible-based teaching or merely adapt of worldly wisdom?
Two sure ways to destroy a building are to tamper with the foundation and to build with deficient or defective materials. The Church must be built on Christ, not on any other person or principle. Christ will evaluate each person's contribution to the life of the Church and the Day of Judgment ("Day") will reveal the sincerity of each person's work. God will determine whether or not they have been faithful to the teaching of Jesus. Good work will be rewarded; unfaithful or inferior work will be discounted. The builder "will be saved, but only as escaping through the flames" means that unfaithful workers will be saved, but like people escaping from a burning building. All their possessions and accomplishments will be lost.
St. Paul wanted the Corinthians to understand that they were a unified assembly ("You yourselves are God's temple and God's Spirit lives in you") They were not to see themselves as a collection of competing interests or independent individuals. St. Paul was emphasizing the intent of Jesus’ prayer in St. John 17:21-23 that believers be unified in God.
What actions could we take these days to strengthen our ties to fellow Christians in the Church of Jesus Christ?
Let us build the Church and let us build our lives in God's own designs and desire as true temples.
May God bless you,
Rev. V. T. John