Take Heed How You Build
In 1 Corinthians 3:10 Paul says, “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.”
Build with Care on the Foundation.
The context of this verse really begins in 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). 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 (1:10; 2 Jn. 9) or we are not building on the right foundation. Take heed how you build.