What do wood, hay, and stubble represent in 1 Corinthians 3?
Wood, hay, and stubble represent works done with wrong motivation—things that enhance the ego rather than glorify God. They are the believer's efforts that will be burned, because God looks at the motivation behind what we do, not merely the outward deed.
Les explains that in 1 Corinthians 3:15, the gold, silver, and precious stones are works rightly motivated for God's glory, done with whole motivation—conscious and subconscious—so God receives the glory, not self. By contrast, wood, hay, and stubble are the many things we get involved in that enhance the ego; they will probably end up as nothing. Les emphasizes that God looks at the motivation: Why are we doing what we do? If it is to be pleasing in God's eyes and to bring Him glory, it is reckoned as gold, silver, and precious stones. But those things do not come easy when done for the Lord's glory. The Christian life is like paddling a canoe up a roaring river—never easy, a constant battle against Satan and the world's designs, yet God promises we can do it.