Trial by Fire

“Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

every man’s work shall be made manifest by fire…”

(1 Cor. 3:12-13)

At first glance, many attribute these verses to some future trial of believers in glory, that will somehow determine who will receive some rewards and how many. However, the context shows that it is not about believers receiving or losing rewards in glory but rather the LORD testing the work of His servants, Gospel preachers, at various times in their ministries.

1. “Now if any man builds”: In verses 4-9, the apostle Paul speaks of those whom the LORD appoints to declare the glorious message of Christ. One plants, another waters but each one preaching and teaching according to the labor that the LORD has given them.

2. “This foundation”: It is preachers of the Gospel of whom Paul speaks here because the Foundation on which they build is Jesus Christ, v. 11. False preachers are not building on the Foundation that is Christ but rather, man and works. The foundation that God laid in Christ is that of salvation through His blood shed unto death and righteousness imputed alone. God the Father purposed salvation and sent His Son to accomplish it completely on behalf of those He has determined to save. That Foundation was only laid once in the death of the LORD Jesus, Hebrews 10:10-14. God calls out Faithful Gospel preachers to build on that Foundation [v. 10] but let every man (Gospel preacher) “...take heed how he buildeth thereupon.” (v. 10)

3. “Gold, silver, precious stones”: This typifies the clear message of Christ and Him crucified set forth in all His glory as the Effectual Substitute, Redeemer, and Satisfaction for the sins of God’s elect.

4. “Wood, hay, stubble”:Preaching Christ and yet intermingling the message with empty and useless commentary, intellectualism, form, ceremony, or tradition. It is not referring here to any who preach another Gospel but preaching the Gospel of Christ with fleshly motive, envy and strife, Philippians 1:15-18. Such were the philosophy and vain deceit, the weak and beggarly elements and the rudiments of the world of which he speaks in Galatians 4:9 and Colossians 2:8.

5. “The fire shall try every man’s work...” (v.13): It will be manifest by the fruit of that ministry, whether it was built on Christ and His grace, or mere intellectualism and ceremony. “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he shall be saved…” (v. 15) The loss will be the minister’s labor in this life and work crumbling. God removing the ‘dross’ the winnowing work was done but his soul preserved being one for whom the LORD paid the debt.

May the LORD Jesus Christ ALWAYS be exalted clearly and simply in the preaching of His Gospel.