I Corinthians 3:10-23 (NRSV)
Read I Corinthians 3:10-23 on biblegateway.com
Verse 10According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Each builder must choose with care how to build on it.
Verse 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ. Verse 12Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw- Verse 13the work of each builder will become visible, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each has done. Verse 14If what has been built on the foundation survives, the builder will receive a reward. Verse 15If the work is burned up, the builder will suffer loss; the builder will be saved, but only as through fire.
Verse 16Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? Verse 17If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.
Verse 18Do not deceive yourselves. If you think that you are wise in this age, you should become fools so that you may become wise. Verse 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness," Verse 20and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."
Verse 21So let no one boast about human leaders. For all things are yours, Verse 22whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future-all belong to you, Verse 23and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
Devotion
One Sunday I saw a homeless man sitting near the stoplight with a sign: “I lost my job, my home, and I have two kids to take care of. Please help!” My immediate thought was, “Maybe he is taking advantage of the economic crisis to seek help. Should I give him money? How much, and will it even help? He would still be bankrupt.” When we are spiritually bankrupt, who can save us? Grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone. We are acceptable as we are: sola gratia, sola fide, solus Christus. Paul affirms this radical and profound testimonial often in his epistles. “So let no one boast about human leaders. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God”(I Corinthians 3:22-23).
Prayer
Save us, O God of grace, from all our spiritual and worldly crises! Amen.