Integrity is My Only Option

Everything I do plants a seed or waters one that someone else planted, and my actions can determine whether that seed and water brings eternal life or eternal death. Thankfully, it's not me who brings growth to the itty bitty seed, but God uses my labor and love to produce His life in those He has given me influence over. Therefore, I need to constantly be aware of how I am building on the foundation that Christ laid.  What materials am I using? Am I willing to give my very best to help build the temple of God? Helping to build Christ's church is going to cost me - how much am I willing to spend?

In 1 Corinthians 3:5-17, Paul explains how our work builds upon the foundation of Christ, and in time, that work is going to be tested by God's holy fire. If we use flammable materials, our work will be destroyed and come to nothing; but if we use precious materials like gold, it will outlast the fire and become more pure as a result of it. Either way we are rewarded in heaven, but those who build with gold are rewarded at a greater measure.

Gold in this analogy is like our life - the most everlasting substance that becomes more pure as it endures more flame. What does it look like to give one's life for Christ in today's world?

• Leaving behind selfish desires that do not glorify God
• Thinking about how what you're going to do will effect the Kingdom of God

In countries represented by kings, the loyalest of subjects always thinks about how their actions will reflect on their king. They wouldn't enter into a battle or kill a man or even ride to another town without their king commanding it or thinking about the motive and the mission the king assigned. If he went against the king's wishes to any degree, he was punished even unto death because the king knew the importance of maintaining his image and reputation for the sake of his kingdom.

My King is Jesus Christ, and I must view Him with an even higher regard, acting only within His motive and mission, pursuing only the battles He assigns to me, and acting and living in a way that accurately and beautifully reflects who He is. My contributions to the Kingdom will be tested under fire. My life is saved, but there will be pain - a cleansing burn - if the materials I build with are not fireproof.

I want to give my life - my gold - to build the Kingdom of God. That means there are things I will no longer be able to do because they go against my love for Christ. With the Holy Spirit's help, I will discipline my mind and body to behave and function according to the will and nature of the Spirit of God. As I am transformed from glory to glory, my nature becomes more like His. Old ways of living have fallen away, and my desires change to fit His. The focus is NOT on not doing certain things but rather on doing those things which lead to transformation. The "not doing" becomes a byproduct - the fruit - of my new nature in Him.