1 Corinthians 3:12–15: “If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, each builder’s work will be plainly seen, for the day will make it clear because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what kind of work each has done. If what someone has built survives, he will receive a reward. If someone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as through fire.”

We do not want to find ourselves in this situation, right? I do not want to find myself in this situation. But he is making it clear that this is a real danger for your ministerial work, because this is in the context of ministry.

There is a real danger that your ministerial work will be unrewarded. He is saying the person will be saved, but only as through fire. “If someone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss.”

So we are not called to just do ministry however we want. You want to do it the way God wants. You want to do it the way God wants it done. And it is about the quality here. Did you see that? It is not the quantity but the quality. Therefore, it is not about the crowd, but the content. Therefore, it is not about the wow, but the words.

“Each builder’s work will be plainly seen.” That means it is not going to happen in a corner; it is going to happen on a massive, global scale. The person laboring in obscurity now, but doing the right thing, will receive public acclamation for having done the right thing.

Paul is very aware of this. “If anyone builds…” That is what we are doing—you are building something. Ministry is a building you are doing, but it is not the physical building; it is the building of people. Remember, Paul said God has given us authority to build up, not to pull down (2 Corinthians 10:8). And in 1 Corinthians 14, he says, “I would rather speak five words with my mind to instruct others” so that others can be edified—built up (1 Corinthians 14:19).

So look at what we are seeing here. He is saying, “Each builder’s work will be plainly seen, for the day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by fire.” This is coming by divine revelation. Paul is speaking by divine revelation. Do not miss the message. This is core to every ministry we are doing.

“The day will reveal it.” When is that day? When Jesus Christ comes back. He said it Himself: “Look, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me to give to each one according to what he has done” (Revelation 22:12). His reward is with Him. Verse 14 here says, “If what someone has built survives, he will receive a reward.” That is what we are aiming for, right? That reward.

In many of Jesus’ parables, He mentions the master leaving, the owner leaving and giving servants talents, or giving servants responsibility over other servants (Matthew 25:14–30; Luke 12:42–48). It does not matter how “minor” you are or how much you have been given; it is the quality of your delivery that will tell us whether you are going to be rewarded or suffer loss.

This is so important. When you look at Jesus’ words in Matthew 7, He says some will say to Him, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name… do many miracles in Your name?” and He will say, “Depart from Me, you lawless ones” (Matthew 7:21–23).

“How do we know the quality?” We may not be able to define the quality easily now, but he says the day will reveal it, because the work will be revealed by fire. “It will test what kind”—not what size—“what kind of work each has done.” And it is all about: “What kind of work have you done?” Then you will receive a reward based on the kind of work you have done—the quality of the work you have done.

“Each builder’s work… each builder’s work… each builder’s work.” Each one. It does not matter which denomination you are part of now; each builder’s work will still be tested.

God bless you. See you later.