This judgement of believers for rewards is described by Paul:

   For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Jesus. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become manifest; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire (1 Cor. 3:11-15).

   Paul makes it clear that this is a judgement not of every man’s soul but of every man’s work. Even if a man’s works are totally burned up, yet his soul will be saved. In the first verse of this passage Paul explains why such a man’s soul is secure.

   For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ (v. 11).

   This judgement concerns only those who have built their faith not upon their own works or their own righteousness but upon the foundation of Jesus Christ and His righteousness. So long as their faith remains unmoved upon this foundation, their souls are eternally safe.

  When it comes to the assessment of believers’ works, these are placed by Paul in one of two categories. On the one hand there are “gold, silver, precious stones.” On the other hand there are “wood, hay, straw.”

  The basis on which these two categories are separated from each other is the ability to stand the test of fire. The items in the first category – gold, silver, precious stones – will be able to pass through the fire without being consumed. The items in the second category – wood, hay, straw – will be consumed in the fire.

 One thought immediately emerges from contrasting these two categories: 

Quality is of infinitely greater importance to God than quantity. 

• • Gold, silver and precious stones are all things that are normally found in small quantities but are nevertheless of great value. 

• • Wood, hay and straw are all things that take up much space and are obtainable in large quantities but are of relatively little value.

  Just what is this fire by which the works of  professing Christian’s will be tried?

  Let us remember that the glorified Jesus will be sitting upon His judgement seat and that each one of us will stand directly before Him. We shall see Him then as John saw Him in his vision on the island of Patmos.

  His head and His hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters (Rev. 1:14-15).

  In this vision Jesus’s feet “like fine brass” in a burning furnace typify the fires of tribulation in which He will judge the sinful acts of the ungodly while His eyes “like a flame of fire” typify the penetrating and consuming insight with which He will assess the works of His own believing people. In the fiery rays of those eyes, as each one stands before His judgement seat, all that is base, insincere and valueless in His people’s works will be instantly and eternally consumed. Only that which is of true and enduring value will survive, purified and refined by fire.

  As we consider this scene of judgement, each of us needs to ask himself: How may I serve Jesus in this life so that my works will stand the test of fire in that day?

  There are three points concerning which each one of us should examine ourselves: motive, obedience, power.

1. We should examine our motives. Is the aim of our service to please ourselves, for our own satisfaction and glory, or do we sincerely seek to glorify Jesus and to do His will?

2. We should examine ourselves on the point of obedience. Are we seeking to serve Jesus according to the principles and methods revealed in the Word of God? Or are we fashioning our own forms of worship and service and then attaching to them the name of Jesus and the titles and phrases of New Testament religion?

 3. We should examine ourselves in respect of power. Paul reminds us, “The kingdom of God is not in word but in power” (1 Cor. 4:20). Are we seeking to serve God in the inadequacy of our own carnal strength? Or have we been renewed and empowered by the Holy Spirit? If so, then we can say like Paul: “To this end I also labour, striving according to His working which works in me mightily” (Col. 1:29, italics added).

  Upon the answers to these questions of motive, obedience and power will depend the issues of our judgement in that day when each one of us shall stand before the judgement seat of Jesus.