Lesson 4: What Am I Doing That Will Last? (1 Corinthians 3:10 – 4:21)

Matthew Henry writes:

The apostle was a wise master-builder; but the grace of God made him such. Spiritual pride is abominable; it is using the greatest favours of God, to feed our own vanity, and make idols of ourselves. But let every man take heed; there may be bad building on a good foundation. Nothing must be laid upon it, but what the foundation will bear, and what is of a piece with it. Let us not dare to join a merely human or a carnal life with a Divine faith, the corruption of sin with the profession of Christianity. Christ is a firm, abiding, and immovable Rock of ages, every way able to bear all the weight that God himself or the sinner can lay upon him; neither is there salvation in any other. Leave out the doctrine of his atonement, and there is no foundation for our hopes. But of those who rest on this foundation, there are two sorts. Some hold nothing but the truth as it is in Jesus, and preach nothing else. Others build on the good foundation what will not abide the test, when the day of trail comes. We may be mistaken in ourselves and others; but there is a day coming that will show our actions in the true light, without covering or disguise. Those who spread true and pure religion in all its branches, and whose work will abide in the great day, shall receive a reward. And how great! how much exceeding their deserts! There are others, whose corrupt opinions and doctrines, or vain inventions and usages in the worship of God, shall be made known, disowned, and rejected, in that day. This is plainly meant of a figurative fire, not of a real one; for what real fire can consume religious rites or doctrines? And it is to try every man's works, those of Paul and Apollos, as well as others. Let us consider the tendency of our undertakings, compare them with God's word, and judge ourselves, that we be not judged of the Lord.

Memory : 1 Corinthians 13:4

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself; is not puffed up.

John MacArthur makes these comments:

  1. “Love suffers long.”  Bearing with a person’s worst behavior, without retaliation, regardless of the circumstances.
  2. “Love is kind.”  Diligently seeking ways to be actively useful in another person’s life.
  3. “Love does not envy.”  Delighting in the esteem and honor give to someone else.
  4. “Love does not parade itself.”  Not drawing attention to oneself exclusive of others.
  5. “Love is not puffed up.”  Knowing one is not more important than another.

Check yourself

  • “Suffers long” we might take to mean as having a long fuse.  How long is your fuse?  Or are you impatient, almost justifying this as a virtue?
  • Do you have a reputation as being kind?
  • In those secret moments, do you envy someone for what they have (family, talents, possessions, etc)?
  • How quick are you to extol your own virtue? 
  • If the 10 people who know you best were asked to respond about you to the questions above, would your answers line up with theirs?  Are you willing to take the test and see?