Motive matters because God tests every believer's work by fire, and the motive behind that work determines whether it is lasting gold, silver, and precious stones or useless wood, hay, and stubble.
Les Feldick teaches that God looks at motivation—why we do what we do—in every corner of life. Works done for God's glory and to please Him are the gold, silver, and precious stones that survive the Bema Seat testing; works done to enhance the ego are wood, hay, and stubble that burn up. Even one small act done with the right motive is worth more than a pile of religious activity done for the wrong reason.
1 Corinthians 3:13 — This is the core verse on why motive matters—the fire reveals the sort of work each believer built.
1 Corinthians 10:31 — This shows that all of life, even ordinary actions, is meant to be done for God's glory—an explicit statement of right motive.
Scripture teaches that every believer's work will be tested. In 1 Corinthians 3:12-13, believers are described as building on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or stubble: "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 does not touch salvation. Verse 14 says if the work abides, the builder receives a reward; verse 15 says if it is burned, he suffers loss but is still saved, "yet so as by fire." Scripture also commands that all of life, including eating and drinking, be done to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Les explains that at the Bema Seat, the Lord's fiery eyes will examine every believer's works, not their sin. The material of a work—gold, silver, and precious stones versus wood, hay, and stubble—is determined by motive. Gold, silver, and precious stones are the things that are rightly motivated, done for God to receive the glory. Works that enhance the ego are nothing more than wood, hay, and stubble. Les says God looks at the motivation behind why we do what we do in every corner of life. If we do something to please God and bring Him glory, it is reckoned as gold, silver, and precious stones. If we are careless or self-focused, our work amounts to nothing. He illustrates this with a devout religious person who just wanted to "slip under the door"—such a person may still be saved, but the careless work will burn. Les also applies this to everyday life. He calls 1 Corinthians 10:31 the crux of the matter: whether we eat, drink, or do anything, we are to do it all for the glory of God. Even mundane things count when the motive is right.
Les teaches that gold, silver, and precious stones are the things that are rightly motivated—when a believer's conscious and subconscious motivation is for God to receive the glory, not for self. Works that enhance the ego end up as wood, hay, and stubble. God looks at the motivation: why are we doing what we do? Doing it to please God and bring Him glory makes it gold, silver, and precious stones.
Scripture says every man's work shall be made manifest and tested by fire. Les describes this as being put under the spotlight of Christ's fiery eyes at the Bema Seat. Every believer—not the unbeliever—will be examined for his works, not for sin. The fire reveals whether the work is wood, hay, and stubble or gold, silver, and precious stones.
Les says a great deal of religious activity can end up as wood, hay, and stubble if it is done to enhance the ego. The motive is what God evaluates. A person who is careless and just hopes to "slip under the door" is putting in wood, hay, and stubble that amounts to nothing. On the other hand, even the mundane things—eating and drinking—count for God's glory when done with the right motive.
1 Corinthians 3:15 says if any man's work is burned, he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved. Les clarifies this is about reward, not salvation. He points to believers who never went out and grubbed for gold but fiddled with wood, hay, and stubble—they will be present but lose reward. This makes motive important even though salvation is secure.
Quality over Quantity
Les teaches that even one small diamond of quality work is better than a whole lumberyard of wood, so believers should set priorities on works that will survive fiery testing.
Motive Makes the Material
Les teaches that gold, silver, and precious stones are works that are rightly motivated—done consciously and subconsciously for God's glory—while ego-enhancing works are only wood, hay, and stubble.
Why Are You Doing It?
Les says God looks at motivation in every part of life; doing something to please God and bring Him glory is gold, silver, and precious stones.
Careless Works Amount to Nothing
Les uses the example of a religious cattle buyer who just wanted to slip under the door; careless, self-focused believers may still be present but their work amounts to nothing.
The Fiery Eyes of Christ
Les explains that every believer's work will be put under Christ's fiery eyes at the Bema Seat, and the fire will test whether it is wood, hay, and stubble or gold, silver, and precious stones.
Do All to the Glory of God
Les calls 1 Corinthians 10:31 the crux of the matter: whether you eat, drink, or do anything, do it all for the glory of God—even mundane things count.
Reward or Loss, Not Salvation
Les teaches from 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 that tested works bring reward, while burned works mean loss—but it is reward at stake, not salvation.
Every Believer in the Spotlight
Les shows that 'made manifest' means putting a work in an intense spotlight; the Lord's fiery eyes at the judgment seat of Christ examine every believer's works, not their sin.
1 Corinthians 3:12: Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
This verse lists the two categories of building materials that the coming fire test will distinguish.
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.
This is the verse that directly answers why the motive behind actions matters—fire reveals the sort of work.
1 Corinthians 3:14: If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
This verse promises a reward for work that survives the testing.
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.
This verse shows that a burned work means loss of reward, not loss of salvation.
1 Corinthians 10:31: Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
This command gives the scriptural standard for right motive in every action, even the most ordinary.
Les Feldick teaches that works done to enhance the ego are wood, hay, and stubble. God looks at the motivation—why we are doing what we do—so believers should aim for conscious and subconscious motivation for God's glory. The gold, silver, and precious stones are the rightly motivated works.
No. 1 Corinthians 3:15 says if any man's work is burned, he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved. Les confirms those believers will still be present at the Bema Seat; the loss is of reward, not salvation.
Les says it is work that is rightly motivated—done for God's glory rather than to enhance the ego. Even mundane things such as eating or drinking can count when done for God's glory.
No. Les teaches believers do not come before Christ with their sin; the examination at the judgment seat of Christ is about works and reward.
Watch the Teaching: What Happens to Believers at the Bema Seat?