Take Heed What You Build

In 1 Corinthians 3:10 the apostle Paul said: “According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.”

The context of this verse really begins in 1 Cor. 1:11 – in which Paul began rebuking the party spirit that existed among the Christians in Corinth. He said, “Now I say this, that each of you says, ‘I am of Paul,’ or ‘I am of Apollos,’ or ‘I am of Cephas,’ or ‘I am of Christ.’ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (vv. 12-13). In 3:4 he states it this way: “For when one says, ‘I am of Paul,’ and another, ‘I am of Apollos,’ are you not carnal?” At this point, Paul puts things into perspective for them. He said, “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase...” (vv. 5-9).

You see, Paul was the one who founded the congregation in Corinth through the preaching of the gospel (hence, he “planted”). Apollos, who came to Corinth after Paul, also worked in the gospel there (hence, he “watered” what Paul had planted). Paul said, “...I have laid the foundation and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it” (v. 10). Truly, the “foundation” that Paul laid in Corinth was the foundation of Christ (v. 11), for Christ is the “rock” upon which His church is built (Matt. 16:18).

This brings up a relative point, and one worthy of all acceptance: all preaching today must be according to the doctrine of Christ, and that alone (1 Cor. 1:10; 2 John 9) – or else we are not building on the right foundation. To the congregations of Galatia Paul wrote, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:6-9). Therefore, friends, take heed how you build.

Aaron Veyon