Building Materials That Endure

"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." – Hebrews 4:13

Once the foundation is laid, the next question becomes: what are we building with? Paul paints a vivid picture in 1 Corinthians 3: some build with gold, silver, and precious stones, while others build with wood, hay, and straw. At first glance, the difference isn’t obvious. A house framed in wood might look just as strong as one built with stone—until the fire comes.

That’s Paul’s point. Every life, every ministry, every decision will face testing fire. Not fire meant to destroy us, but to reveal what we’ve truly been building with. Gold, silver, and precious stones represent eternal materials—acts of faithfulness, hidden prayers, repentance when no one is watching, sacrificial love when it costs us something, consistent obedience to God’s truth. They may not attract applause here, but they endure forever.
Wood, hay, and straw? These are the things that look impressive on the surface but are empty at the core. Building for human approval. Pursuing comfort at the cost of obedience. Serving with selfish motives dressed up in spiritual language. These things may look solid for now, but they cannot survive the fire of God’s judgment.

This is sobering, because it reminds us that not everything that wears the label “Christian” is truly Christ-honoring. We can build ministries that impress crowds and still be fueled by ego rather than devotion. We can craft reputations that look “faithful” but are hollow at the center. God sees through all of it—He alone weighs the heart.

Here’s the hope: when we choose the hidden, faithful path, when we build with integrity, love, and truth, God promises it will not be wasted. Even the smallest brick laid in His name lasts forever.

Reflection Question
What “materials” are you using to build your life right now? Are you more concerned with what looks impressive to people, or what lasts before God?

"Faithfulness often looks unimpressive, it looks dirty, it looks agonizing. That means building on Christ involves things like hidden prayers, quiet repentance, consistent integrity when no one's watching. Because God sees that and He says that heart—that lasts forever."

Prayer
Heavenly Father, I confess that too often I reach for cheap materials—approval, pride, comfort—that burn away in Your fire. Teach me to value what You value. Help me choose the quiet, unseen acts of faithfulness that endure. May the work of my life be built with gold, silver, and precious stones for Your glory. Amen.