What Sort Is Your Work?

 1 Corinthians 3:12-15

12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with GOLD, SILVER, PRECIOUS STONES, WOOD, HAY, STRAW,  13 "Each one’s WORK will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work of what SORT it is. 
14 If anyone’s WORK which he has built on it endures, he will receive a REWARD. 
15 If anyone’s WORK is burned, HE will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, as though through fire."

There are so many Christians who really have the idea that our Heavenly Father is all about rules, regulations and stern discipline when they make mistakes.  

What a hard view of God!  How can you have a warm, family kind of relationship with Him if you think He's angry at you or is constantly looking at your faults and failures, making you feel as if is He is disappointed with you?,

The answer is, "YOU CAN'T!" 

Know where marriages like that end up?  DIVORCE!    

Our Father in heaven doesn't want a relationship like that with us.  Far from it!

He was known by many Names in the Old Testament.  His favorite, however, was not listed there because He could not be known by that Name backbthen.  When Jesus came, He revealed it.

If you're curious what that name is, follow this link to find out:  http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2014/07/gods-favorite-name.html.    

The problem under the Old Covenant was that the law, being holy, just and good, is also completely cold and unbending.  You're blessed you if you do right but cursed you if do wrong.

     

God wants MORE THAN ANYTHING to bless His people because LOVES HIS US!  Unfortunately, under Law, they were cursed more often than they were blessed.  HE DID NOT LIKE THAT.  In fact, He found fault with that system.  That's why He wanted to institute a New Covenant (See Hebrews 8).  You see, He has always been about grace, not rules,and regulations. 

God's Part And Our Part.

Under the Old Covenant, there was "God's part and man's part"  But no way could we hold up our end of the bargain.  So, He paid in full to replace that covenant with a NEW ONE--Grace--which cost Him DEARLY: The life of His darling Son, JESUS. 

    

Under the New Covenant there's God's part.....and there's God's part."  Our "part," if you can call it that, is #1: To BELIEVE that He's got all the bases covered, and #2: To RECEIVE HIS FREE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.  

Remember, righteousness it's a GIFT; NOT a reward for good behavior.  JESUS already did all the heavy lifting.  

That's how much He loved us!  That's how much He wanted to have fellowship with us--warm, fun, enjoyable, sweet, intimate fellowship.  He didn't come to give us laws, laws and more laws.  He came to give us LIFE AND LIFE MORE ABUNDANTLY!!!  

Church, we desperately need to hear this message now, more than ever!

In the opening scripture, Paul is instructing pastors and leaders on how to teach their people.  How do we know he is not addressing the rank and file?  Let's back up and look at the preceeding verses so we can understand their context:

1 Corinthians 3:7-9 

"It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both GOD'S WORKERS. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building." 

He says four words:  "WE ARE BOTH GOD'S WORKERS."  That's how you know his audience is in the same category as he is:  THEY ARE CHURCH LEADERS, too.  He's not addressing the rank and file but fellow leaders.  

The next time you hear a sermon on this passage and the pastor is using it to point AT YOU, understand this:  The verse is mistakenly being taken out of context.  We know this is true because of what Paul said in the verses prior to this passage.   

Gold, Silver, Precious Stones.

Paul speaks of precious metals, gems and kindling, so to speak, COMPARING TEACHING TO TANGIBLE THINGS.  Gold in the Bible speaks of Divine righteousness.  Silver typifies redemption.  Precious stones refers to the priceless gems on the breastplate of judgement that represent all of us and how precious we are to God.

(For more about the breastplate of judgement follow this link:
http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-breastplate-of-judgment.html)

When you go to church, are you being reminded of how God sees you--as precious stones, as covered in gold (Divine righteousness) and firmly rooted in silver (Redemption), forever made right with God?  THIS TEACHING IS GOLD, SILVER AND PRECIOUS STONES.  

Pastors, our people need to hear this:  LOUDLY AND OFTEN.  They need to hear how they are clothed with God's divine righteousness, redeemed from all their sins--past, present AND future--through Jesus' blood and that they are precious in God's sight.  Undergirded with this knowledge, when trials inevitably come--you know:  The fire--THEY will be able to withstand in the evil "DAY" because of this truth they learned FROM YOU.  Your work will stand and you will be rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ accordingly.

The Judgment Seat Of Christ.

Speaking of the Judgment seat of Christ, we've been fed some unfortunate misinformation about this all our lives.  The verse in question is this one below:

II Corinthians 5:10

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."

You have to understand that, though the Bible it is an inspired book, it is only the original languages are inspired, not the languages into which it was translated. That's why we have so many "translator issues." Because they are people too, translators have a particular frame of reference like everyone else.  They can slant their translation in a negative way if they only know God as harsh and unbending, making Him appear cold and stern.  Words in English are often added that, while they make the text flow better, can and do actually cause more confusion.  So, you need to study the original translation to determine God's unadulterated message.  Strong's Interlinear Online is a great resource to aid in doing just that.

This verse is a prime example.  You see, in the Greek text, the word "judgment" doesn't appear.  It is called the "Bema seat of Christ." 

If you'd like to read about the whole truth about this topic, follow this link:  http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-judgment-seat-of-christ.html

At the so-called "Judgment Seat of Christ, God doesn't judge you based on what size your work is but on what "sort" it is.  It's not about judging your works to see if you make it to heaven!  No.  Your work, Christian leader, is tested to see whether it is Gold, silver, precious stones OR wood, hay, stubble.

Wood, Hay And Stubble.

What kind of teaching is wood, hay and stubble?  Telling people that their Christian life is based on good works (wood), right doing (hay) or measuring up to some standard (straw/stubble).  

Based on that system, people will try to earn God's blessings by their works.  Then they wonder why they're not blessed.  Well, when we work, God rests.  Even worse, THIS FALSE TEACHING WILL HURT THEM and they will not be able to stand "in the evil day."   It is so much better to rest from our works of self-righteousness.  When we rest, God works!

I don't think any pastor knowingly does this but it seems that a lot of this kind of false teaching is going around.  Nothing wrong with Bible college or theological seminary but let's be careful to read what the word "SAYS" and let the Holy Spirit guide us, not just spout things we were taught in seminary.  The Bible is a living, breathing, multi-layered book that speaks to us in different ways at different times.  It even speaks differently to different people based upon their unique and individual situations.  NO OTHER BOOK ON PLANET EARTH CAN DO THAT!

However, those who insist on teaching falsehood, two unfortunate things will happen:  
#1.  Your people, who's Christian walk is based on those false teachings, will not be able to hold up when the heat is on.  They will not be equipped to withstand the trials of life. AND....

#2.  The same thing will happen to the one who taught them: YOU.  Your teaching and possibly even your ministry will go up in smoke like so much wood, hay and stubble, though your life will be spared, of course.

Bear in mind, these trials refer only to the tangible world, the stuff we all go through.  Your spirit is forever safe.

       

God's Simple Solution.

Church Leaders, God has simplified everything and made it SO EASY.  WE ARE TRANSFORMED BY BEHOLDING JESUS!  As we lift Him up and point TO Him--and ONLY Him--instead of AT THE PEOPLE, He is adored, glorified and unveiled.  The Holy Spirit then takes over and He begins teaching!  That's a better deal!  No sweat on your part.....and you'll be doing your people a great service.  They will grow and change without your effort, be holy by accident as it were.

But it's up to you as to what you teach your people.  They work, God rests; they rest, GOD WORKS!  HALLELUJAH!!!  Seems like a no-brainer to me but just remember:  God is a great respecter of your free choice. He will sit it out if you insist.

So what's it gonna be? Wood, Hay and Stubble, or Gold, Silver and Precious Stones?  

It's not about what SIZE your work is; it's about WHAT SORT YOUR WORK IS.