12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stone, wood, hay, straw – 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on a foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
1 Corinthians 3: 12-15 (ESV)
In 1 Corinthians 3 verses 12-15 we see that on Day of the Lord our works will be presented before the Lord and tested by His fire. We see here that many of our works will not make the cut. But this is good news!
Because in verse 15 we are given the comfort of knowing this does not mean I am saved or not, I am still in Christ Jesus, going to heaven, saved for all eternity. But with the knowledge that my works may be built on selfish wants or needs is a truth that every believer must be conscience of before engaging in said activity. Is this building up the kingdom or myself? If it is built with “gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw” as verse 12 indicates then it is of my own doing and will therefore be burned up right in front of my eyes on that day.
We must always recognize that some of our labor is selfish and actively seek to push from such desires. Even evil men will labor and toil for hours every day and see no fruit from it. We are to follow scripture alone in order to grasp the works in which God made us for as we walk out life on this earth. Being an active reader of His Word every day and learning His truths (not our own) is key to bringing His works, not mine, into play.