1 Corinthians 3:10-17
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. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 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. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.
Most people consider the reformation led by Martin Luther to be a crucial turning point that restored the essence of God’s Will, emphasizing the aspect of faith and God’s initiation that saves us. Yet, why does the Bible contain many scriptures about our “being repaid according to our deeds”? What are these righteous deeds and merits that God looks at, and what is the importance of them?
We often consider the value of good deeds and merits after having earned some tangible award, but God looks at more than just the end product.
God looks at our effort during the process
How many times have you put in all your effort to accomplish something, but the outcome only disappointed you or just didn’t feel satisfying enough to reflect all the sweat you had put into it? It’s unlikely for any one person to know how much dedication and work you had put into a task, but God surely knows.
It’s okay for certain things to go unseen, like underground foundation rocks. What is placed on top stands strong because of that base and will shine even more according to how the initial foundation was made.
Build a strong house of faith with merits of truth and love
A weak foundation will not last long nor will it last through harsh weather and tribulations. So make Christ your foundation, and build your house of faith with good materials—that is with absolute love and truth. It is built according to your own effort, dedication, and investment.
However, great merit cannot be accumulated in a short amount of time. Just as a rock landscape or a house must be built over a long period of time to make it in a grand way, merits must also be built up in this way. Be diligent in both your body and heart; then, you will be able to achieve merits at the opportune times.
Overcome evil with merits of faith
Abraham achieved the merit of faith by obeying God’s commands. Being obedient is a big condition, so the merit of faith is big. Isaac also accomplished this by obeying his father.
But Adam and Eve failed to be obedient towards God, and so Satan deceived them. If you don’t fear and drive away Satan, he’ll lead you to the world of darkness.
You don’t defeat Satan by fighting with your fists but by being righteous before God, revering Him, loving Him, and obeying Him. Even during times of tribulation, people with merits will overcome all difficulties. Job overcame hardships and Satan with the merits of being honest, shunning evil, serving God, and loving Him.
Work to achieve eternal merits
God gives blessings according to the merits of your faith, so there is no need to be envious or disappointed by what others receive. There are so many kinds of merits, such as the merits of faith, courage, enduring and overcoming, saving and taking care of people with love, loving the Trinity, offering, thanksgiving, and developing yourself. If you do what God desires, those actions are eternal merits that will make both your body and spirit shine valuably.
