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"Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work" (1Co.3:12,13). The quality of the spiritual work we do will be found one day when the Lord tests it. Paul is saying that different people can appear to be doing a lot of ministry, but the value of the ministry is not all the same when the Lord evaluates it. Paul compares our work with the use of expensive or cheap material in the construction of a building. When we see ourselves on that day, looking back on our life, will we have regrets? Remember, no matter how we wish we had done things differently, at that time it will be too late to change anything.

Take the example of worship about which Jesus has said that the only worship acceptable to God is what is given in spirit and truth (Jn.4:23). Isn't it possible to appear to worship from the posture we take, raising our hands, the way we sing and sway, etc.? But Jesus looks for truth – where we are thinking of and meaning what we sing, and our heart is absorbed with admiration and gratitude to the Lord. External forms can be very deceptive because they give us the feeling that we are doing everything right, but the Lord who looks at the heart may find emptiness. It is possible to interpret 'spirit' in this verse as the Holy Spirit, and then it would mean for us to be led by Him. But it is also possible to understand it to mean our spirit, and then Jesus would be emphasising the need to be 'real' by saying 'in spirit and truth'. In simple words, if our heart is not in what we do, but we are carrying out the right form of things, it is a deception.

Imagine if this reality is missing from our ministry, whatever ministry we are doing, and it has become all a matter of the form. Then we would be deceiving ourselves if we thought that we were serving God. We cannot serve God unless we do it in spirit and truth.

Another aspect of our ministry God is going to examine is our motive (1Co.4:5). Ministry means to serve, God and His people. But if our secret goal was to gain something for ourselves,whether it is money, name or power, we have not really been serving God, even if we appeared to do things sacrificially (1Co.13:2,3). If we were doing ministry for selfish gain, how foolish we would look when the Lord examines us!

We know we are not perfect, doing everything perfectly in spirit and truth all the time. That is a reality that should make us more careful to examine ourselves, and then to press on to perfection in every direction. Our humanness is not an excuse to continue with a mere form, but our awareness of it should compel us towards becoming more real and genuine. Everything we do and say must come from our heart (1Co.10:31). If we are leaders, this is what we must practice and also teach the people.

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