My first job was in a construction company. I was tasked to estimate the electrical expenses and needs for the site. Along with that I was also tasked to make sure that what’s in the plan get followed in the site itself. This only means I need to get the shovel, the hammer, the fliers, the “climbing” (we were building 60-meter cell sites/towers) and the grounding (land excavation of up to 3 meters or more). It was hard and really tiring. And I was actually “THE” engineer. How much more if I was the construction worker? That must had been more strenuous.
But here’s what I’ve learned today from 1 Corinthians 3:5-17. We are workers and builders in the Kingdom of God! Oh Yes! Being part of God’s family doesn’t just make us children of God [John 1:12] but workers and builders as well!
Paul said in 1 Cor. 3:9-10
9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.
Reflection:
1. We are co-workers with Paul. We are either the ones who lay down the foundation or those (I believe most of us will be) build ON the foundation. Either way we have a job to do! Paul referred to the Corinthians as the “Buildings” [1 Cor. 3:9]. Your friends, your family, your workmates, everyone are buildings. Buildings who may and may not have the foundation yet who is Jesus Christ [1 Cor. 3:11] but still they are our accountabilities. We have been called to either lay the foundation by sharing God’s WORD to them or build on the foundation (Word of God) by encouraging them, praying for them, discipling them and bringing them closer to God. How have you been building on other people’s lives lately? Have you been laying more burden (e.g. pain, discouragement, hurt, bitterness, etc.) or have you been laying some great things for the building to be more like what God has planned for it to be built.
2. We are at the same time the “BUILDINGS”. This is where I also praise the Lord. Indeed God is a complete God. He didn’t call us to just work and work and give away as mentioned in verse 1. We too have builders building on us making us better Christians. Correcting us, training us, rebuking us sometimes through God’s Word. My prayer is for each of us to be magnificent buildings, beautiful architecture, wonderful masterpiece as what God had planned for us beforehand.
So we see that there’s a process. God had raised Builders to lay the foundation in your hearts (during your Spiritual Birthday) and He has also raised builders who have discipled you, taught you and helped you grow from baby infants to now a mature Christian. And yes, even until now your builder is praying and backing you up always. But the process had not ended there. You too must be a builder on somebody else. Doing exactly what your builder did and had been doing to you.
And here’s the promise from [1 Cor. 3:14]:
“If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.”
