What does wood, hay, and stubble represent in the bema seat judgment?
Wood, hay, and stubble symbolize a believer's works done from wrong motives or lacking eternal value. Fire tests every man's work; these works burn, causing loss of reward, yet the believer himself is saved, though as by fire, with nothing to show for it.
Les teaches from 1 Corinthians 3:14-15 that the believer's works are tested at the bema seat by fire. If a man's work abides—gold, silver, precious stone—he receives a reward. But if his work is wood, hay, and stubble, meaning it was never of the right motive and was of no consequence, it will be burned. He shall suffer loss, not of salvation, but of reward. He himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire, having nothing to show for it. He is saved and will be in glory, but with no reward. Les notes this will be true of far too many believers.
If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.