In a healthy church, each member is to care for each other. In unity we serve God as a part of the hole; for the Kingdom of God is united.
There are to be no divisions; each of us is to consider each other and help as we can. Therefore, in our church, we will each do different tasks as we see the need of others and feel the burden of God. Yet this is the very place division begins.
On the inside of many churches you will find there are those who feel their commitment is to a pastor. They feel if they show up to hear him preach and give to the causes on his heart, they have fulfilled the work of God. Thus we have some people not committed to each other and others in the church serving, helping, comforting, and teaching. In this we have two different factions of people.
The first faction we talked about was one which Paul addresses first in this passage. These are people who follow the pastor; these will tell you what a gifted man he is and how God uses this man. They will tell others to come hear their pastor, yet never accept an invitation to hear another pastor. These feel their pastor can do no wrong.
The problem is these have become follows of a man and not that of God. Paul spoke about this saying, I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. 1 Corinthians 3:6-9 (NKJV)
The second faction of people often have their own core group in a church. These are the ones who administrate the events and services at the church. this group is the backbone of the church.
As if living in their own separate world, these, who are busy in service, often do not socialize with the faction who holds the pastor in such high regards. The truth being, these are busy serving God and when church lets out, the pastor followers head out the door leaving those in service behind.
At first glance you may consider each to have a problem socializing. This is true when the two become very distant. However, these two groups must come together to have a unified church. A healthy church abounds in the love of God for each other.
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. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 (NKJV)
We must consider this question. "Why is my church there?" Though the answer is an elementary answer, many do not take the logic of the answer further than the answer itself.
The church is there to be a continuation of the work which Christ began. The first church built on the foundation truths Christ laid. All churches after that have built upon the work of the first church. By now the walls of the church should be well established; however, because of factions within the church, there has been many building problems.
As mentioned, if we can answer the question of why the church is there then we should be able to follow this work through history, through your church, and through your life. Is your attitude to build the church upon the foundation laid by Christ? Is yours the attitude to work inside your church to build it up and secure the way for the building for the next generation? If it is, then you are one who serves.
Paul’s analogy of us as builders is good. We are each builders building the Kingdom of God while on earth. Everyone on the job site contributes to the building. The person that sets the brick in place cannot do his job if the person bringing the bricks does not do his job first.
In our churches we have various workers, doing various jobs; this inevitably is when all of the work come to fruition and a new person joins the family of God. Yet their addition is not to the credit of the workers; for without the foundation, Jesus Christ, no one could be saved.
This means that care must be given when working. We must consider ourselves and our service just as important as anyone else in the church. It takes us all working together to build this church. Therefore, do not follow the pastor, follow Christ and His plan for building the Kingdom of God.
Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 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. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 (NKJV)
In a perfect world everyone does their job and the tasks are executed on time. Sometimes a building is finished ahead of schedule and all the workers get paid. Yet when it comes to building of the church, people lose their sense of urgency and the importance of their work. If the church were a true building and we were all erecting a structure, it would be interesting to see if we would be on time and how it would look.
Paul speaks about building on the foundation of Christ with material which will not last into eternity. Thus the work of some, will not count; it will not matter, and will be unrecognizable. Would it not be a terrible thing to pass from death to life and have find you did not help to build the Kingdom of God?
In most churches we have people who do just that. They show up for church, but they are not involved. They fill the pews and then head to their cars. Week after week, it is the same practice; therefore, let it be known, attending church is not an instructions Christ gave for building the church. If anything He said "Go!" "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:15-16 (NKJV)
In churches, we have pastors which fall to sin and some even have to step down from their pulpit. In churches we have squabbles and divisions which occur.
Throughout history problems have plagued the church and a group of people will always be far from perfect. Knowing this, Paul wanted the Corinthian church to continue going forward. For the work must continue.
There are times when a worker does not work up to par and they have to be counseled, and encouraged to do better. With the right encouragement they return to work and can spend many productive years.
No matter the failure, no matter the person, once they submit, confess, and walk away from their error, their service can be put back on track. Yes, their mistake is going to follow them, as histories do; but they can still work hard to be pleasing to the Lord.
In the end all the work we do will be passed through a fire that will burn away all the wrong things, the bad things, the lazy things, and the misguided things; what will be left are those things we did well. It will be this lasting service that we are rewarded on and the rest will be forgotten and history erased never to follow us again.
Dear Christian worker, the Lord has a desire for each of us to serve in a capacity as a builder of the church of God and you must value yourself for He finds value in you.
You have been given a abilities to do work to help the church grow. Some are janitors, some are gardeners, others are teachers, and some can cook food. There are those who encourage others, pray for others, and counsel others. We have singers, musicians, greeters, and even parking lot helpers. There is a job for everyone.
The foundation is Christ and the building of the Kingdom of God is made with caring, helping, praying, forgiving, counseling, loving, teaching, leading, guiding, showing, reading, studying, and conveying to show others how much God loves us. Each of these are bricks and the God's Holy Spirit is the mortar.
There is not a single person more important within the church. The pastor is just another person. Therefore, let us consider ourselves as ministers, priests, and pastors, which are all building on the foundation of Christ.
Each of us is expected to devote our lives to God. We are not our own; we are bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Therefore, let us walk worthy for we are called to serve.
