The Three Little Pigs - A Spiritual Allegory
Did you ever read or hear the story about the three little pigs? They each built a house using different construction material. The first built his house of straw. The second of wood. The third of brick. A wolf comes along and asks to enter each home with each pig responding that he won't let the wolf in. So the wolf decides to blow each house down and is successful with the first two, but not the third.
In 1 Corinthians 3 we read:
10 "By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames."
With the recent destructive hurricane winds in the south we have heard a lot on the news about the value of building codes and purposefully building structures that can withstand 100+ mph winds.
In this Scripture passage we are challenged to evaluate how we are building our lives and our witness. Are we building on the firm foundation of Jesus? Is the quality of our work worthy of the foundation upon which it is being built? Or in other words: What type of life are you leading? Who are you becoming? Have you done with your life what God would have you do with it?
Interestingly, this passage starts by recognizing that it is by the grace of God we are able to build on the sure foundation of Jesus Christ. But from there, we do have a responsibility to take care in building our house.
During my first two years at New Disciples, the third chapter of 1 Corinthians influenced a lot of my leadership. I contemplated the type of food that we needed as a church - was it milk or solids? (See verse 2.) We talked about the stones we would use to build the walls of our church. Stones like "Bible study," "worship," and "mission." We reflected upon the unity of Christianity and that we weren't First Christian or Cedar Christian or even New Disciples, but we were all Christians - followers of Christ. (See verses 4-6) In many ways we can tell the story of our first two years together by reflecting on this chapter of the Bible.
Personally, as a pastor, I was concerned about the statement, "the fire will test the quality of each person's work." To me, this statement spurs me to disciple, not just do evangelism. What this means is that I don't think it is good enough to just introduce people to Christ. To many churches are doing this, but not helping these new Christians to grow in their faith and to become true followers of Christ. So it isn't about the size of the congregation, but about the quality of the faith of the people who gather. And if the quality of faith is there, I believe that it will then naturally grow, because healthy organic things grow.
In 1 Corinthians 3 we read:
10 "By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames."
With the recent destructive hurricane winds in the south we have heard a lot on the news about the value of building codes and purposefully building structures that can withstand 100+ mph winds.
In this Scripture passage we are challenged to evaluate how we are building our lives and our witness. Are we building on the firm foundation of Jesus? Is the quality of our work worthy of the foundation upon which it is being built? Or in other words: What type of life are you leading? Who are you becoming? Have you done with your life what God would have you do with it?
Interestingly, this passage starts by recognizing that it is by the grace of God we are able to build on the sure foundation of Jesus Christ. But from there, we do have a responsibility to take care in building our house.
During my first two years at New Disciples, the third chapter of 1 Corinthians influenced a lot of my leadership. I contemplated the type of food that we needed as a church - was it milk or solids? (See verse 2.) We talked about the stones we would use to build the walls of our church. Stones like "Bible study," "worship," and "mission." We reflected upon the unity of Christianity and that we weren't First Christian or Cedar Christian or even New Disciples, but we were all Christians - followers of Christ. (See verses 4-6) In many ways we can tell the story of our first two years together by reflecting on this chapter of the Bible.
Personally, as a pastor, I was concerned about the statement, "the fire will test the quality of each person's work." To me, this statement spurs me to disciple, not just do evangelism. What this means is that I don't think it is good enough to just introduce people to Christ. To many churches are doing this, but not helping these new Christians to grow in their faith and to become true followers of Christ. So it isn't about the size of the congregation, but about the quality of the faith of the people who gather. And if the quality of faith is there, I believe that it will then naturally grow, because healthy organic things grow.
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