Believers can build upon the foundation of Christ with six materials: gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, and stubble.
Three of these materials — gold, silver, and precious stones — can withstand fire and heat, while the other three — wood, hay, and stubble — go up like a puff of smoke. Les Feldick teaches that every believer is given these six materials to build into his or her own section of the wall, and that the quality of that work will be revealed and tried by fire at the judgment seat of Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:12 — This verse directly lists the six materials — gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble — that believers can build upon the foundation of Christ.
In 1 Corinthians 3:9–11, Paul writes to believers: "For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." Speaking of himself, he says, "According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon." The passage then declares: "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." Verse 12 goes on to name the building materials: "Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble." And verse 13 explains the outcome: "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." Scripture thus presents six materials in two groups, and a testing fire that reveals the quality of each man's work.
Les Feldick teaches that every believer becomes a builder by virtue of his works, and that Paul — the wise master builder — laid the one foundation, Jesus Christ and His finished work of the Cross. No other foundation can be laid. Since Paul's day, general-run-of-the-mill believers have been building on that foundation for almost 2,000 years, adding to the building. God gives every believer six materials to work with: gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, and stubble. The first three can withstand heat and fire; the last three go up in a puff of smoke. Les notes that wood, hay, and stubble are everywhere, and that most Christians build with them because they are too lazy to get up and work for the hard-to-get materials. Les pictures the building as a wall of cement blocks or bricks, where each believer mixes the mortar and lays the brick meticulously because his section of the wall will be examined by the fiery eyes of the Lord Jesus. Every man's work will be made manifest — put in the spotlight at the bema seat, the judgment seat of Christ. This testing is not hell fire; it is not about a person working for salvation, but about a believer who already has salvation and is now working for reward.
Les Feldick teaches that the six materials fall into two distinct categories. Gold, silver, and precious stones cannot be hurt by fire and withstand the heat. Wood, hay, and stubble, on the other hand, go up in a puff of smoke. These are the two groups that every believer is given to place in his or her section of the wall.
According to Les, believers become builders by virtue of their works and daily experiences. The foundation is Jesus Christ — no other foundation can be laid — and Paul was the master builder who laid it out and left the instructions. Believers are adding to that building through their Christian walk, mixing the mortar and laying the brick meticulously, because their section of the wall will be examined by the fiery eyes of the Lord Jesus.
Les teaches that every believer's work will be made manifest — placed in the spotlight at the bema seat, the judgment seat of Christ. The day shall declare what each believer has done with his Christian life and his section of the wall. The testing fire is not hell fire or the lake of fire; it is the examination by Christ, who has eyes of fire. The test concerns the believer's works and reward, not his salvation, because the foundation of Christ is secure.
Paul the Master Builder Lays the Foundation
Les shows that Paul, as the wise master builder, laid the foundation — Jesus Christ — and that believers who do nothing to further the Word of God are nevertheless still in heaven, because the foundation is secure.
Six Building Materials Named
Les lists the six materials — gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble — and explains that three are indestructible by fire and three go up in a puff of smoke, yet all six are potential materials for the Christian's daily experience.
Believers Become Builders Through Works
Les teaches that by virtue of our works we become builders and that God gives us six materials — three that withstand heat and fire and three that go up in a puff of smoke.
Most Christians Build With Wood, Hay, Stubble
Les says wood, hay, and stubble are everywhere and most Christians build with them because they are too lazy to work for the hard-to-get materials; he also clarifies the test is for the believer who already has salvation and is working for reward.
Believers Build a Wall for Christ's Examination
Les pictures believers building a wall of cement blocks or bricks and being meticulous because their section of the wall will be examined by the fiery eyes of the Lord Jesus; God gives six materials for the building.
Two Categories of Material; the Bema Seat Test
Les contrasts the fire-proof materials with those that vanish in smoke, and teaches that every believer's work will be put in the spotlight at the bema seat, the judgment seat of Christ.
Testing Fire Is Not Hell Fire
Les notes that the fire which tries every man's work is not hell fire or the lake of fire, and connects the testing to Christ, who has eyes of fire.
Paul Laid the One Foundation
Les emphasizes from 1 Corinthians 3:10–11 that no other foundation can be laid than Jesus Christ, that Paul was the master builder who laid it, and that every man must take heed how he builds.
1 Corinthians 3:9: For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
Identifies believers as God's building, the structure on which the foundation is laid.
1 Corinthians 3:10: According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
Paul describes himself as the master builder who laid the foundation and warns each builder to take heed.
1 Corinthians 3:11: For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Names Jesus Christ as the only foundation that can be laid.
1 Corinthians 3:12: Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
Lists the six materials that the question asks about.
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.
Shows that every man's work will be revealed and tried by fire.
The six materials are gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, and stubble. Les teaches that the first three — gold, silver, and precious stones — are indestructible by fire, while the last three — wood, hay, and stubble — go up in a puff of smoke. All six are potential materials for the Christian believer to use in daily life.
No. Les Feldick is clear that the fire in 1 Corinthians 3 is not hell fire or the lake of fire. It is the fiery examination by the Lord Jesus, who is described as having eyes of fire, and it tests the sort of work a believer has built.
Yes, according to Les. He says there are believers who do absolutely nothing to further the Word of God, but they are going to be in heaven. The test at the judgment seat of Christ concerns the believer's works and reward, not his salvation, since Christ is the secure foundation.
Watch the Teaching: Will Your Works Burn? The Judgment Seat of Christ