ESOCS Devotional 18 September 2026 – Reward For Building on Christ’s Foundation
MEMORY VERSE: “If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward” (1 Corinthians 3:14 KJV).
TEXT:
Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, 6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are [f]contentions among you. 12 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.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 16 Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a [i]stumbling block and to the [Greeks foolishness,
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
READ OTHER ESOCS DEVOTIONAL HERE
As we journey through life, we become builders of our legacy, engaged in constructing a framework not just for ourselves, but for our communities and, significantly, in the sight of our Creator. Our memory verse dives deeply into the spiritual implications of our endeavors and the ultimate evaluation of our lives before God. In 1 Corinthians 3:10, the Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, writes: “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.” This profound verse invites us to engage in a deep reflection regarding our personal foundation in Christ and the manner in which we build upon it.
Paul further elaborates on the church as a holy temple built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11). This foundational truth reassures us that any effort made to honor God and His ways is built on the ultimate architect of faith, Jesus Himself. Our labor—whether it is delivering a kind word, engaging in acts of service, or spreading the Gospel—finds its stability in the assurance that we are participating in Christ’s work.
However, Paul draws our attention to evaluating what we build upon Christ’s foundation. He speaks of three materials: gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, and stubble (1 Corinthians 3:12). Each of these represents the quality of our work. What we build with gold and silver symbolizes enduring, Christ-honoring endeavors, while wood and stubble reflect motives driven by selfishness or earthly desires. This insight invites intense introspection. What motivates your daily decisions? What materials are you using in your relationships, your work, your ministry? Are you building spiritually or are you building carnally? (I Corinthians 3:1- 4).
We must take note that every man’s work will ultimately be made manifest, “for the day shall declare it” (1 Corinthians 3:13) and there will be a day of reckoning when all of our actions will be unveiled by the righteous judgment of God. There is an urgency in this message—time is of the essence. The pursuit of living in a manner that glorifies God must be woven into our daily lives. Understanding this brings not only motivation but also a healthy fear of the Lord.
We are reminded in verse 14 the promise of reward for those whose works abide. It sounds like a whisper of encouragement amidst the chaos of a world that often rewards surface-level achievements. When our work endures, we receive a reward—a divine acknowledgment from our Creator for our faithfulness and diligence. This is not merely about eternal life or avoiding punishment; it speaks to the richness of the experience of God’s grace in our lives. Imagine standing before God, receiving not condemnation but reward and recognition for having dedicated your efforts to advancing His kingdom.
So, how can we ensure that our works abide? Begin by seeking to build upon the foundation of Christ daily by reading Scripture, praying earnestly, and aligning your will with God’s. Assess your current projects and relationships. Are they reflective of the eternal value God calls us to uphold? Furthermore, let your motivations be rooted in love and service—not for grandeur or recognition, but solely for the glory of God. In your workplace, home, and church, commit to excellence in all that you do, recognizing that it is ultimately for Him.
Challenges:
- Are you an intentional builder of lasting legacies?
- Are you laboring diligently and how can you ensure that your works abide?
Prayer:
O Lord, grant us grace to diligently and intentionally build lasting legacies in Jesus name. Amen.
FURTHER READING: Jeremiah 52: 1 – 11; Acts 28: 11 – 31; 2 Samuel 24:17 – 25
ESOCS Devotional 18 September 2026
