A work's value is determined by whether it is gold, silver, and precious stones or wood, hay, and stubble, as tested by fire at the judgment seat of Christ.
Scripture shows the fire will reveal every man's work of what sort it is. Les Feldick explains that rightly motivated works done for God's glory are the indestructible materials, while ego-enhancing activities are the combustible wood, hay, and stubble. The result is either reward or loss of reward—never loss of salvation.
1 Corinthians 3:12-13 — Paul directly contrasts building materials and says fire will reveal every man's work of what sort it is.
In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul compares believers' daily works to building materials laid on a foundation. He lists six materials: gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, and stubble (1 Corinthians 3:12). It is not the quantity of material that matters; fire will test what sort of work each person built. 'Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is' (1 Corinthians 3:13). If the work survives the fire, the builder receives a reward (1 Corinthians 3:14). If the work is burned, the builder suffers loss—yet is still saved: 'If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire' (1 Corinthians 3:15). The Scripture thus ties the value of works to their ability to survive the fire, and separates reward from salvation.
Les Feldick teaches that 1 Corinthians 3 is about the judgment seat of Christ (the Bema Seat), where every believer's works—not their sins—will be put under the spotlight of Christ's fiery, penetrating eyes. He defines 'made manifest' as putting something in an intense spotlight where nothing is left to chance. Les identifies six materials as 'potential materials for the Christian to use in his daily experience': gold, silver, and precious stones cannot be hurt by fire, while wood, hay, and stubble go up in a puff of smoke. The difference, he explains, is motive: rightly motivated works done so that God receives the glory are the gold, silver, and precious stones, while things that enhance the ego end up as wood, hay, and stubble. He concludes that when works are burned, the believer suffers loss of reward—not loss of salvation. He warns that too many Christians will meet the Lord with nothing but 'a bunch of old sticks' and no reward, even though they are saved.
The Bible says 'every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire' (1 Corinthians 3:13). Les Feldick describes this manifestation as putting a thing 'in an intense spotlight where nothing is left to chance.' He identifies that spotlight as 'the penetrating, fiery eyes of the Lord Jesus' at the judgment seat of Christ, where every believer will be examined not for sin, but for his works.
Paul lists six building materials: gold, silver, and precious stones on one hand, and wood, hay, and stubble on the other (1 Corinthians 3:12). Les explains that gold, silver, and precious stones cannot be hurt by fire, while wood, hay, and stubble 'can go up in a puff of smoke.' All six are 'potential materials for the Christian to use in his daily experience,' and fire puts each builder's section of the wall to the test.
Les teaches that the gold, silver, and precious stones are 'the things that are rightly motivated'—works done with the whole motivation that God receives the glory. He says many of the things believers are involved in 'enhance the ego' and 'will probably end up as nothing more than wood, hay, and stubble.' Thus motive determines what survives the fire.
If a believer's work is burned, Scripture says he 'shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire' (1 Corinthians 3:15). Les clarifies that the loss is 'not of salvation, but of reward.' He adds that many Christians will go out to meet the Lord with 'nothing in their section of the wall but a bunch of old sticks'—saved, but with no reward.
Six Building Materials—Three That Survive, Three That Burn
Les lists the six materials from 1 Corinthians 3:12 and explains that gold, silver, and precious stones are indestructible while wood, hay, and stubble go up in a puff of smoke; all six are potential materials in a Christian's daily experience.
Christ's Fiery Eyes Test Every Work
Les says every believer's work will be put under the spotlight of Christ's fiery eyes at the Bema Seat and tested by fire to reveal what sort of work it is.
No Believer Escapes the Fire Test
Les emphasizes that not a single believer will escape the fiery eyes of the Lord; every work will be revealed by fire, determining reward or loss.
Wood, Hay, and Stubble Produce No Reward
Les teaches that wood, hay, and stubble go up in a puff of smoke; the believer suffers loss of reward, not salvation, and he fears too many Christians will have nothing to show.
Right Motive Turns Works Into Gold
Les explains that gold, silver, and precious stones are works that are rightly motivated and done for God's glory, while ego-enhancing activities become wood, hay, and stubble.
Saved Yet With No Reward
Les applies 1 Corinthians 3:14-15: works that abide receive a reward; works burned mean loss of reward, yet the believer himself is saved—a multitude of Christians may have nothing but sticks.
Two Categories of Building Material
Les contrasts the two categories of material—gold, silver, and precious stones that fire cannot hurt versus wood, hay, and stubble that burn up—and says every believer's work will be made manifest at the Bema Seat.
Manifest Means Intense Spotlight
Les defines 'manifest' as putting something in an intense spotlight, and says the penetrating, fiery eyes of the Lord Jesus will examine every believer at the judgment seat of Christ—not for sin, but for works.
1 Corinthians 3:12: Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
This verse lists the six materials that represent the works believers build on the foundation of Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:13: Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
The fire of judgment will reveal every man's work and test what sort it is.
1 Corinthians 3:14: If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
Works that survive the fire receive a reward.
1 Corinthians 3:15: If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Burned works mean loss of reward, but the believer is still saved.
No. 1 Corinthians 3:15 says the believer whose work is burned 'shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.' Les Feldick emphasizes the loss is reward, not salvation.
Les says these are works that 'enhance the ego' and are not rightly motivated for God's glory. They are combustible materials that go up in a puff of smoke when tested by Christ's fiery eyes.
Les says gold, silver, and precious stones are 'the things that are rightly motivated'—works done so that God receives the glory. They survive the fire and result in reward.
At the judgment seat of Christ, often called the Bema Seat. Les says every believer's works will be put 'under the spotlight of Christ's fiery eyes' and tested by fire.
Watch the Teaching: What Happens to Believers at the Bema Seat?