In first Corinthians chapter number three, we’re going to look at some, of what I expect to be pretty familiar verses and passages, for you Christians. But I want to take a look at this here as we are transitioning from, Thanksgiving into, the Christmas season. Now, I know Walmart and Kroger and all those folks, you know, they already transitioned to the Christmas season about two months ago. But in reality, that’s that’s what we’re we’re heading into. So just some things to encourage you through this season because people get awfully discouraged,this time of year. And it’s easy to get discouraged. I understand it, I mean, I fall under the same, you know, pressures and everything as everybody else, you know, and all that as far as, you know, wanting to do good and do things for people and and all that. And that requires, you know, money and then, you know, it’s the end of the year. So money is always tight at the end of the year anyway, just because it is what it is. And,it can get stressful and depressing for some people because they can’t do all that they want to do, for other folks and things like that.

And, you know, I mean, I agree, you know, right? Christmas has become way too materialistic and all that. But,  it’s not even for me really about that so much. It’s just you like to do things for people and stuff now, I always I never Christmas shop until like, Christmas Eve. Anyway. because that’s when you get the really good deals. Now. I’m kidding. You don’t get any good deals when you wait that long. but it’s because I. I can’t buy something in, like, not give it to people. Right? Like, I bought something for the preacher, and I couldn’t wait to give it to him. And after I gave it to him, I was like, I should have waited till Christmas. So give it back and I’ll regift it. So, as we transition into that, some things I want to encourage you, with.

1 Corinthians 3:9–15

9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

And what I want to talk to you this morning is about the melting point. The melting point. He says here, and he has a list of some things that are going to represent your life at the judgment seat of Christ. That’s what’s being dealt with here. So, as Christians, when the Lord comes back to rapture out the church, we’re going to go to the judgment seat of Christ.

And that’s where these things are going to be judged. The works that you have performed since you have been saved are going to be judged at that, at that judgment. And if they make it through that judgment, through that fire, then you’re going to receive a reward. And if not, then they’re going to amount to nothing for you. And so he gives a list of some things, that he is associating with those works here in verse number 12 he says, if you build on your foundation, I mean, first and foremost, you got to have that foundation set or else none of the rest of it even matters. But if you build upon that foundation, gold, silver, precious stones and then he says wood, hay or stubble. So it’s two different classifications of types of things that he’s dealing with here. And I’m going to take the latter first and talk about the wood, hay and stubble. You know, they all burn. They all burn. And if you want to have a campfire or something and you need some kindling, that’s the kind of stuff that you want to get together. And in order to light it up, if you apply a flame to it, it’s going to catch on fire and it’s going to provide some heat and some light For a while, but then it’s going to burn up. And is going to be gone.

You know, if you’ve ever been at a campsite or even if you have a fireplace at the house, I don’t mean, you know, those gas ones that are fake and those are the electric ones that everybody has now that are all fake. I mean, a real fireplace that you put wood in and you actually have an actual fire. I think they still put those in houses. Every house that I’ve ever had that had a fireplace had a gas insert. In it instead. But, if you’ve ever done that or you had a wood stove of any sort or something like that, you know that you have to keep feeding the thing because the wood and, the hay, the stubble, the straw, all that kind of the paper, all that stuff you put in there, it burns up and it burns really hot. Really good for a while, but it’s going to burn down and it’s not going to last. It’s not going to last. That’s what he’s talking about here.

What kinds of things are you building in your life? What kinds of things are you pursuing in your life? Are they going to matter for something? are they just going to make you feel good for now, for a little while? And, and then they’re just going to pass away and, and they’re going to fade away, and they’re going to be for nothing.

I mean, how many times in your life have you gotten something in your mind that you just couldn’t live without? Something, whatever that thing is or was? It might be a car, it might be a toy, it might be a relationship for all that matters. Whatever it is, it’s something that you just think you just can’t live without this thing. And you do everything you can, and you dream about it, and you daydream about it and everything, and you just plan for it and everything else, and you finally acquire that thing, whatever it is. And then it’s like eh! Well and all that great after all. I guess you know wasn’t any better than the last one I had. It doesn’t last.

That’s that wood, hay, and stubble and things. So what kinds of things are you? Are you,  Pursuing in your life? The trials that come in life, are going to consume the worthless parts of our character and our activities and our spending habits and all that stuff. It’s just going to melt away. It’s just going to burn up.

But on the flip side, he says, here you got, gold and silver and precious stones. Now, if you put enough heat and enough fire on gold, silver, and precious stones, they don’t just burn up.

They don’t burn up. They change like gold and silver. Both work similarly.  you heat them up. And the dross, all the impurities rise to the top, and then they’re able to knock the impurities out. And then you’re you’re left with either pure gold or pure silver. Precious stones work similar to that, but they don’t really actually melt down and, create a dross or anything but what they do. Usually precious stones when you get when they get all heated up, they fracture. They fracture, they split and stuff, and then they reveal the real beauty that’s inside them. And if you build the right things into your life and you concentrate on the right things in your life beyond all the distractions, all the wood, hay, stubble, all the stuff that’s trying to pull you away, it seems like it’s the thing that’s going to draw you to it. You’re going to keep you warm and satisfied, but it’s not going to last. Instead, concentrate on the things that are going to help to remove that stuff out of your life and concentrate on those things, and on what the Lord would have you to do and stay encouraged through this Christmas season.

Because if you’re not intentional about staying encouraged during the Christmas season, you’re not going to stay encouraged.

Our hope at Irvington Bible Baptist Church is that this podcast provided some encouragement and has helped you to develop a closer relationship with the LORD Jesus Christ.