“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

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.” – I Corinthians 3:11-15

Have you ever put hours into a project or some task — just to see it unravel and fall apart soon thereafter?

It’s maddening. Frustrating and disheartening to be sure.

This morning, this passage in I Corinthians came to mind. I confess, I haven’t thought of this passage in awhile.

The words though simple and few, are sobering.

“…the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is…”

We can spend much effort, much energy and much of our heart on the work and business of life; relationships and ministries. But the reality is — one day we will find that some of it, was in vain.

Some of our investments and our works simply will not work.

Just as the only true foundation we can build on is Jesus Christ, the only works that will last are those that are done in His name.

In Mark 9:41 Jesus said: whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

When Jesus makes this statement “in My name” — it’s not just about doing things and attaching His name to them — it’s about doing things within His nature, character and authority, commanded by Him.

We can do alot of things using Jesus’ name, that were never commanded by Him, nor completed in harmony with his character.

Jesus is not our corporate sponsor — He is our commander.
He is the Lord.

We must do the things and ministries that He is directing us to do — by His Word and by His Spirit.
These are the things that will be in harmony with His character and His heart.
These are the things that will be powerful and impacting.
These are the things that will last.

In Ephesians 2:10, it speaks of the church as God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do “good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

There are certain works that God has prepared for us to do, that build on the foundation of Jesus Christ and will exalt Him and build His kingdom and His church. These are the questions we ought to be asking:

• What are the things that God is directing us as His church to do?
• What is Christ calling us to do — in His name, by His power and His authority?
• Which relationships are we to invest in?
• What ministries are we to pursue?

There is an old song by Rich Mullins, in which he sings:

“Will You pick up the pieces
That were pure and true
And breathe Your life into them
And set them free?”

The pieces that are pure and true — the things that will last, are those that our directed by Christ, for His sake, His glory and His kingdom.

Let us seek to do the things that will last into eternity.