Sunday 30 August 2020

Ultimately

Ultimately
The apostle Paul writes,
"By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds.  
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.  
If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.  
If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.  
If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames." 1 Corinthians 3:10-15.
While Paul is addressing the Corinthians here the message is also for us today. Paul was used by God to lay the foundation of the faith the Corinthian believers. But Paul warns no one can lay any other foundation than that already laid.
He points out that if believers try building on that foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or even straw it will be burned away. Resulting in the person entering heaven by the slimmest of margins.
Jesus said,
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 
"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money” Matthew 16:19-24.
Both Paul and Jesus here are warning Christians not to mix the riches of this world with their faith.
Ultimately the riches of this world will fade away. Everything material possession we have will dissolve away. Only what we have done for God will last.
Please think about it.

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