God’s Mysterious Ways—Part 3
Why is it important to “say something eternal? Many years ago I heard a teaching about our “works.” It changed my life and made me get my mind off myself and onto what God might want me to do. @donnalhsmith #GodsMysteriousWays #SaySomethingEternal #GodsCallOnMyLife
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 say, “for no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.” ESV
What does this mean? A note from The Passion Translation on these verses says, “There is here an allusion to the temple of Solomon, which was built suing gold, silver, and costly stones. Wisdom will build her house with divine substance (gold), redemption’s fruit (silver), and transformed lives (costly stones. Wood, hay, and straw are emblems of the works of the flesh, the building materials of men, not of God. It is both quality and durability that God commends. Fire will cause the better material to glow brighter, but the inferior material will be consumed.” Pg. 446 of The Passion Translation
The teacher was talking about what we do. What are we doing with our lives? Are we living for ourselves? Or for God?
What is a work of God? Prayer, ministry (service) of any kind where the focus is God, worship, etc. As long as God is the focus of what we do, our works will survive, because they will be eternally significant.
What’s not significant? Anything that doesn’t focus on God. That’s not to say we can never enjoy our lives. Jesus said He came to give us abundant lives.
It’s mainly an attitude of the heart.
Take an inventory of yourself. Are you living more for yourself, or for God? Is what you do of eternal worth and value? If not … Give it some thought. @donnalhsmith #GodsMysteriousWays #SaySomethingEternal #GodsCallOnMyLife
Donna L.H. Smith 