According to God’s grace, like a skilled master builder, I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done (1 Corinthians 3:10-15, ESV)
We all make judgments. Contrary to a widespread misreading of Scripture, we are commanded to make righteous judgments (see Matthew 7:1-5). Scripture prohibits judgmentalism. Making righteous judgments and being judgmental are not the same thing.
Determining where the ball entered the hazard is mainly about proper judgment. If you blocked your drive and your ball entered the lateral water hazard one hundred yards off the tee and not an additional one hundred fifty yards down the fairway, then making the proper drop, while painful, is the right thing to do.
You will recall the kerfuffle between Daniel Berger, Joel Dahmen, and Victor Hovland at The Players Championship. Berger hit his second shot on the par five, number sixteen, into the water on the right. He maintained that his ball entered the hazard much closer to the green than his playing partners, Dahmen and Hovland. A somewhat cordial “dust-up” ensued.
Making the proper judgment mattered to the rules of golf. It mattered to the rest of the field. It mattered to Berger’s integrity. More than likely, it mattered to Berger’s scorecard; at least one shot, more or less.
We all make judgments. Making the proper judgment is critically important. Judging someone’s motive is reserved for God. Judging behavior is a different matter. If a man leaves the club, gets into his car in an inebriated condition, and causes a wreck, he is appropriately judged.
Paul is addressing matters of grave importance. Like our modern building inspectors, Paul is making judgments about the foundation, the materials, and the craftsmanship that go into building God’s building (vs. 9) and temple (vs. 16).
Regarding the “foundation,” Paul says the foundation for the building/temple has been laid. That foundation is “Jesus Christ.” He means the life, death, resurrection, ascension of Jesus, and the demands placed on us, particularly our trust and obedience.
Regarding the materials, Paul metaphorically describes them as “gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, and straw.” The fire refines the first three. The remaining three “go up in smoke.” Paul reasons, “…each one should build with care.” Paul is making judgments regarding the materials and craftsmanship that go into the “temple of God.”
We know that club designers rigorously test the materials for designing and building our golf clubs. In this case, Paul indicates that the quality of the materials will be tested by fire. This raises an important question: When will fire test the quality of each man’s work? Answer: “The Day.”
What Day? Notice that “Day” is capitalized. The “Day” is the Day of Judgment. Elsewhere, Paul argues that “we will all appear before the judgment seat.” This is not a judgment between those who serve Jesus in this life and those who don’t. That is a different judgment. This judgment is reserved for those who profess Christ.
This is not the judgment separating sheep from goats; instead, this judgment determines the quality of work done by believers, particularly the quality of work done by Christian leaders.
To be clear, the one who carefully builds according to the pattern found in Scripture will “receive a reward.” The one who builds with “wood, hay, and straw” will “suffer loss but yet will be saved.”
If you ask the question: What is Jesus doing from the right hand of God between his first and second coming? The answer, at least in part, is: He is calling men and women to co-labor with him in building a vast, worldwide, spiritual temple fit for a King!
Links exist, among other reasons, to come alongside men and women to study the architectural plans for this massive millennia-long building/temple—found only in Scripture.
Prayer- Jesus, teach us to build your dwelling with great care.