I am at a stage of life where I genuinely enjoy looking at pictures and hearing stories of young couples celebrating Christmas with their children. I am also at a stage where I am thankful that it is now them putting together the toys, searching the house for batteries, and waking up at 5 a.m. and not me.  By the time I woke up on Christmas morning, made cinnamon rolls and drank my coffee, most families with young children had already finished Christmas and were on the road to Grandma’s house!

I utterly loathed putting toys together on Christmas morning.  I will brag just a little, though. Some of the toys I assembled back then are still being used by little ones when families visit our home.  Just this past Friday night, my Spider-Man house was being played with by our youth pastor’s son.

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 3:10–15 that we are all builders and must be careful in our craft:

“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon… Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.”

Paul was not comparing our work to toys, but to something far more significant, the temple of Apollo (see verse 16).  As ships made their way eastward through the Gulf of Corinth, preparing to cross toward Athens through the Strait of Corinth, sailors would see a magnificent structure on the horizon.  It was a landmark unlike any other.  One that was built with the wealth of Corinth and of such size that it was breathtaking.

While most Greek temples of the time were constructed of limestone and coated with stucco, Corinth went bigger.  They quarried thirty-eight monolithic limestone columns, each carved from a single seven-ton block.  No stacked drums.  No segmented shafts.  This was uniquely ambitious and technically demanding.

This temple honored Apollo, the son of Zeus.  As the gateway between two major waterways, Corinth honored Apollo as the bridge (or gateway) between man and the gods.

In 146 BC, this magnificent structure was partially destroyed by the Romans.  Though it was intended to be completely demolished, a significant portion was left standing.  When Rome later claimed Corinth as a Roman colony, they undertook the task of rebuilding the temple.  Roman master builders built upon the foundation that the Greeks had laid.

When Paul visited Corinth, these modifications were underway.  The work was visible to all.  Thousands passed through Corinth, attending the Isthmian Games or sailing its seas, and all witnessed the construction firsthand.

Paul reminds the church at Corinth that their work was on display as well.  Having accepted Christ, they now served a new ruler and were rebuilding on the foundation, not of the Greeks, but of Jesus Christ.  They understood that this meant not only being seen by others, but also giving an account of their work to the Chief Architect on “the day.”

Martin Luther once said that he lived for two days: “today and the day.” What we build will be observed by many and ultimately inspected by Christ.

Just this week, I learned that three men whose ministries I have followed and whose books I have read have disqualified themselves from ministry.  As we read of men like them and others, it becomes all the more important that we build something lasting.  Their temples have been destroyed.  Their columns are no longer standing, and the time spent building is now reduced to ruin and rubble.

We must be intentional!  We must be purposeful!  We must leave behind a legacy, a structure, that glorifies God and imitates Christ.  A work that remains, drawing others not to us, but to the true God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.