Psalms 127:1 “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain who build it.”
There is also an eternal price to be paid for walking in God’s permissible will. All believers will stand before the Lord Jesus on their day of judgement to give an account of their lives (Romans 14:12). The Lord can only place His stamp of approval (so to speak) on those works which He has pre-ordained should be done in our lives, for it is only those works in which He is a co-labourer together with us. The above quoted passage of scripture teaches us that there are those who build on their own, and not as co-labourers together with the Lord. I want you notice that their house was built but the Lord was not involved, and so they built it on their own. The Holy Spirit tells us that those who build on their own labour in vain. The reason they labour in vain is because their works are done in the flesh and not in the spirit, and sadly all those works will be burned up on the day of judgement.
1 Corinthians 3:8-9 “Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labour. (9) For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field; you are God's building.”
In the above quoted passage of scripture the apostle Paul refers to the church as God’s building, and if you read the context of this passage he goes on to talk about those who build God’s building. The important point that I want to make from this passage however, is that Paul refers to us as God’s fellow workers.
Acts 10:19-48 “While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are seeking you. (20) Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them." (21) Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, "Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?" (22) And they said, "Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you." (23) Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him. (24) And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. … (44) While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. (45) And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. (46) For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, (47) "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" (48) And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.”
So what does it mean to be God’s fellow worker, and how do we become God’s fellow worker? Let me answer that question by means of an illustration given to us in scripture. In the above quoted account the apostle Peter had been praying and fasting before the Lord. It was while Peter was fellowshipping with the Lord that the Holy Spirit instructed Peter to preach the gospel to the gentiles. In other words Peter’s action was initiated in the spirit realm by the Holy Spirit. Peter then obeyed the leading of the Holy Spirit and acted out in the natural, what he had been told to do in the spirit. When Peter obeyed, then God was able to manifest His power through that which Peter was doing, and wrought the miracle of the new birth and the baptism of the Holy Spirit in those who heard Peter speak. In other words, Peter was God’s fellow worker on this occasion. This is just one account of many in scripture, of a man working together with God as His fellow worker. The principle in every case remains exactly the same. God initiates the work in the spirit. Man responds in the natural by being obedient. And then God completes the work by manifesting His supernatural power, thus glorifying His name. These works are blessed by God and will receive their just reward on that day.
Revelation 3:1-2 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. (2) be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.”
So what about works done in the church which are not done according to the Lord’s perfect will? In the above quoted passage of scripture the Lord Jesus revealed to us that the church at Sardis was doing their works outside of God’s perfect will. And so even though they were doing works for the Lord they were nevertheless building their own house, and not working together with the Lord Jesus as His fellow workers. As a result, our Lord told them that their works were dead and that He had not found them perfect before God. In other words they were works done in God’s permissible will, and not according to His perfect will.
1 Corinthians 3:12-15 “Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, (13) each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. (14) If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. (15) If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”
In Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth quoted above, the Holy Spirit reveals to us just what happens to the works done in this life that are not done in accordance with the perfect will of God the Father. All those works will be burned up on that day, and as a result the believer will receive no eternal reward. No believer should want to find themselves in that place on that day, where the works that they have done in this life are burned up, because they were done outside of the Lord’s perfect will for their lives.
Michael E.B. Maher
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