When Apostle Paul speaks about our works enduring through fire, he is not talking about a literal blaze but a metaphorical test of what we’ve built our lives upon. Just as a farmer separates the wheat from the chaff, our spiritual works will be tested for their true value and endurance.
The Test of Fire
Imagine every autumn, as leaves fall and branches break, a farmer sets aside the decaying wood for burning. This is akin to how some of our life’s works—those built on weak foundations like hay, wood, and stubble—will ultimately be consumed by fire. Why? Because they lack the enduring quality needed to withstand the test of time and trial. As Paul explains, “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” (1 Corinthians 3:12-13). Those works built for personal glory or earthly recognition are destined to be ephemeral, disappearing like smoke.
Fire Resistant Works
What then constitutes the materials of gold, silver, and precious stones in our lives? These are the works done not for our glory, but for the glory of God and Jesus Christ. Just as gold and silver are refined and purified by fire, so too are acts done in true service to God. The Psalms and prophets remind us repeatedly that the glory of creation itself sings to the honor of the Creator, and we are urged to do likewise, acknowledging that everything we have and are comes from Him, and should therefore be used to glorify Him (Psalm 115:1, 1 Corinthians 4:7, Isaiah 42:8).
Unseen Acts of Service
Jesus taught that the truest acts of service are those done in quiet humility, without seeking recognition. In Matthew 25:34-40, He praises the righteous who unknowingly served Him by caring for others in need, illustrating that when we serve “the least of these,” we serve Christ Himself. This aligns with His teaching to give so discreetly that “your left hand does not know what your right hand is doing” (Matthew 6:3). The profound lesson here is that the works which endure are those performed out of genuine love and compassion, not those done for accolades or acknowledgment.
Conclusion: The Invisible Foundation
If we find ourselves building our lives for selfish reasons, even under the guise of doing good, these efforts will ultimately be revealed as fleeting and insubstantial. True and enduring works are those that reflect God’s glory, mirroring the selfless love of Christ. These are the works that will survive the divine test of fire, earning eternal rewards. Let us strive, then, to build our lives with the imperishable materials of faith, hope, and love, knowing that what is often unseen by the world is fully seen and remembered by God. In doing so, we ensure that our spiritual legacy will withstand any trial, shining brightly like precious metals refined by fire.
