GOD’S BUILDING

The apostle Paul was undoubtedly a skilled master builder. It was the grace of God that had so equipped him and his spiritual skill set included an unmatched ability to present Christ in the gospel message and to teach Jesus as Lord. He had vast expe­rience of ‘all the churches’ and so was practical as well as knowledgeable of the ways that be in Christ Jesus. This was the foundation of the church at Corinth and he personally had laid it. It consisted of Christ first and Christ last, and nothing, and no one, could replace Him. Other teachers, however, had the privi­lege of building on it, conscious always, of course, that they were involved in God’s building, of which He Himself had said, in a universal sense, ‘I will build my church’.

It is a great honour to be a teacher or leader in a local assem­bly. It is also an awesome responsibility to be involved in the growth and development of such a company of believers. It would seem that in this section there are three types of Bible teachers. There are those who build into the assembly teaching that is useful, v. 12; those at the other extreme whose teaching is defiling or destructive, v. 17; in between are some who, though gifted to be part of the work, build in only light and perishable materials. It is important for teachers to ‘take heed how’ they build; the future of the testimony depends on it.

Those who minister Christ and His Lordship help to equip the church for trials yet future, whether corporate or personal. Their service is described as building in gold, silver and precious stones; things that are valuable and lasting. Others are described as building in wood, hay and stubble. Materials that look good, ministry that sounds good but to which there is no substance; nice to listen to but it will not help saints to stand in the evil day and having done all to stand.

Then comes the question of the testing of the edifice by fire, or by the word of God. The teaching of Christ and truths relating to the New Testament assembly and the conduct of believers will withstand such a test but light and popular teaching will not stand when tested by the word of God. It will burn up. The time spent in speaking it and listening to it will be lost.