If believers are saved by faith alone, why do they still need to work and serve?
Believers are saved by faith plus nothing, yet immediately begin to work and serve to God's glory because reward is piling up. Every believer’s works will be tested by fire; works that abide bring reward, while burned works bring loss of reward, not loss of salvation.
Les explains that believers may have a lot of wood, hay, and stubble, which will count for nothing, while others have a little gold, silver, and precious stone symbolically and receive reward. The lesson is that we are saved by faith plus nothing, but immediately we begin to work and serve and do everything to God's glory because the reward is piling up. He illustrates that everything done for God's glory is being sent ahead and waiting for us, to be cashed in later. He clarifies this is not about salvation but reward: every believer's work will be made manifest and tested by fire, and if a man's work abides he receives a reward. If his work is burned, he has nothing but wood, hay, and stubble, never having grubbed for gold or dug for silver or precious stones.