QT 09/07/2026 Thu 1Cor 3 . Building with Materials that Lasts? 用经久耐用的材料建造？
QT 09/07/2026 Thu 1Corinthians 3 Building with Materials that Lasts?
READ https://www.esv.org/1+Corinthians+3/
What if your property developer hands over the keys to you on TOP but informs you that the materials they have used were only hay and straw hardened by mud? Would you accept the unit? Yet do we expect God to accept the same materials when we hand over our lives’ work to the Master at the end of our tour on earth? Let’s unpack Paul’s exhortation in 1Corinthians 3.
Scripture Focus
"For when one says, 'I follow Paul,' and another, 'I follow Apollos,' are you not being merely human?" (1 Corinthians 3:4, ESV)
Paul's words to the Corinthians are startling because he is addressing believers, not unbelievers. They have received Christ and the Holy Spirit, yet Paul calls them "people of the flesh" and "infants in Christ" (3:1). Their jealousy, strife, and party spirit reveal a gap between what they profess and how they live.
The issue is not that they have lost their salvation. Rather, they are living beneath their spiritual calling. Instead of displaying the wisdom of the cross, they are behaving like the surrounding culture—elevating personalities, seeking status, and measuring success by worldly standards.
Reflection
How easy it is to assume maturity because we know Scripture, attend church, serve in ministry, or have had significant spiritual experiences. Yet Paul points to a different measure: Has the gospel transformed the way we think, relate, and serve?
The Corinthians admired gifted leaders and formed factions around them. Paul redirects their attention: "What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed" (3:5).
Christian leaders are servants, not celebrities. Churches are healthiest when Christ is the focus rather than personalities, preferences, or programs. Paul also reminds us that every believer is a builder. We are building upon the one true foundation—Jesus Christ. One day, God will test the quality of our work. Some works will endure like gold and silver; others will disappear like wood, hay, and straw.
The sobering truth is that it is possible to be genuinely saved yet spend one's life building things that have little eternal value. Activities that bring recognition, comfort, or success may not necessarily advance God's kingdom. The question is not merely, "Am I busy?" but "Am I building with materials that will last?"
Gospel Application
Christian maturity is not measured by influence, knowledge, wealth, or charisma. It is measured by increasing conformity to Christ. Mature believers:
- Value unity over personal preference.
- Serve rather than seek recognition.
- Build others up rather than gather followers around themselves.
- Depend on God's power rather than human wisdom.
- Pursue transformation, not merely inspiration.
The church becomes a true temple of God when the Spirit shapes a community marked by humility, holiness, love, and the message of the cross.
Personal Examination. Ask yourself:
- Are there areas where I am still reacting according to worldly thinking rather than Christ's wisdom?
- Do I admire Christian leaders more than I imitate Christ?
- What am I building with my time, gifts, and resources?
- Would my current priorities resemble gold and silver—or wood and straw—when tested by God?
- How am I contributing to the unity and maturity of my church family?
Key Takeaway
Spiritual maturity is not proven by what we claim to know, but by how deeply the gospel transforms our character, relationships, and service to Christ's church. One day our work will be tested; therefore, let us build on Christ with what truly lasts.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me the firm foundation of Jesus Christ. Forgive me for the times I have pursued my own ambitions, sought human approval, or measured success by worldly standards. Grow me beyond spiritual infancy into maturity in Christ. Help me build with materials that will endure for eternity. Make me a servant who points others to Jesus rather than to myself. By Your Spirit, shape me into a faithful worker in Your field and a living stone in Your temple. In Jesus' name, Amen.
QT 09/07/2026 星期四。哥林多前书 3 用经久耐用的材料建造？
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/1co/3/
如果你的房产开发商在交房时告诉你，他们所用的材料仅仅是泥土硬化过的干草和稻草，你会接受这套房子吗？然而，当我们在尘世旅程结束时，将毕生心血交托给主时，难道我们还指望神会接受同样的材料吗？让我们来深入探讨保罗在《哥林多前书》第三章中的劝勉。
经文聚焦
“有人说“我是保罗派的”，又有人说“我是亚波罗派的”，你们不是和世人一样吗？”（哥林多前书3:4）
保罗对哥林多人的话语令人震惊，因为他面对的是信徒，而非外邦人。他们已经领受了基督和圣灵，保罗却称他们为“属肉体的，看作在基督里的婴孩。”（3:1）。他们的嫉妒、纷争和党派之风，暴露了他们所宣称的信仰与实际生活之间的鸿沟。
问题不在于他们失去了救恩，而在于他们活不出自己属灵的呼召。他们没有彰显十字架的智慧，反倒效法周围的文化——推崇个人、追求地位，并用世俗的标准来衡量成功。
反思
我们很容易因通晓圣经、参加聚会、参与事工或有过深刻的属灵经历，就自以为已经成熟。然而，保罗指出了另一种衡量标准：福音是否已经改变了我们的思维方式、人际关系和事奉方式？
哥林多信徒崇拜有才干的领袖，并围绕他们形成派系。保罗将他们的注意力引向正轨：“亚波罗算什么？保罗算什么？我们不过是 神的仆人，你们借着我们信了主；按着主所赐给各人的”（3:5）。
基督教领袖是仆人，而非名人。当教会以基督为中心，而非以个人、喜好或活动为中心时，教会才是最健康的。保罗还提醒我们，每位信徒都是建造者。我们正在那唯一的真根基——耶稣基督——之上建造。终有一日，神将检验我们工作的质量。有些工作将如金银般经久不衰；有些则会如木、草、禾秸般化为乌有。
一个发人深省的事实是：人虽得着真实的救恩，却可能终其一生建造那些在永恒中毫无价值的事物。那些带来声望、舒适或成功的活动，未必能推进神的国度。关键不在于“我是否忙碌”，而在于“我是否用能存留的材料在建造？”
福音应用
基督徒的成熟度不在于影响力、知识、财富或个人魅力，而在于日益效法基督。成熟的信徒：
- 重视合一胜过个人喜好。
- 甘于服侍，而非寻求认可。
- 致力于造就他人，而非只顾聚集追随者。
- 倚靠神的权能，而非人的智慧。
- 追求生命改变，而非仅止于灵感启发。
当圣灵塑造出一个以谦卑、圣洁、爱心和十字架的信息为标志的群体时，教会便成为真正的神的殿。
自我省察。请问问自己：
- 是否还有某些方面，我仍在按照世俗的思维方式行事，而非凭着基督的智慧？
- 我是否更崇拜基督教领袖，而非效法基督？
- 我正用自己的时间、恩赐和资源建造什么？
- 当经受神的试炼时，我目前的优先事项会像金银一样，还是像木头和干草一样？
- 我在促进教会家庭的合一与成熟方面做出了怎样的贡献？
关键要点
属灵的成熟并非体现在我们自以为知道什么，而是体现在福音在多大程度上改变了我们的品格、人际关系以及对基督教会的服侍。终有一日，我们的工作将接受考验；因此，让我们以真正持久的材料，在基督的根基上建造。
祷告
天父，感谢祢赐给我耶稣基督这坚固的根基。求祢赦免我那些追求个人野心、寻求世人认可，或用世俗标准衡量成功的时刻。求祢使我从属灵的婴孩期成长为在基督里的成熟信徒。求祢帮助我用能存到永恒的材料来建造。求祢使我成为一位引导他人归向耶稣而非指向自己的仆人。求祢藉着圣灵，将我塑造成祢田间忠心的工人，以及祢殿中活石。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。
