3:131 Corinthians 3:13

Every person's work built upon the foundation will be brought into the open, for the coming day of judgment will declare it, because it will be uncovered by fire that tests what kind of work it truly is.ExVEGW 38.5–8+4 That foundation is Jesus Christ alone, Christ crucified as atonement, the eternal Rock on which life, character and the church must be built.Ms 70, 1897, par. 17–21+2 Work that endures like gold, silver and precious stones is thorough, faithful character and doctrine — humility, love, purity, integrity, unity, daily dependence on Christ and diligent soul-saving — which grows brighter in the trial and stands for eternity.Ms 130, 1899, par. 30–33+4 Work that perishes like wood, hay and stubble is selfish, cheap and false — self-indulgence, human philosophy and heresy, worldly policy and harsh criticism, and life spent for self and the world — which is exposed as it is and consumed.Ms 130, 1899, par. 30–33+4 What abides receives a proportioned reward with eternal life, what is burned brings great loss of the lifework and its reward, yet the builder himself may still be barely saved as by fire if he repents and is purified, so each must take heed how he builds now while probation lasts.Lt 105, 1901, par. 4–6+4

Every person's building work laid upon the foundation will be made manifest exactly as it is, for the day will declare it because it is revealed by fire that tries every man's work of what sort it is.ExVEGW 38.5–8+4 The proving places God's own estimate upon each one's work, discerning its true quality and resulting in reward if it abides and loss if it is burned.Lt 105, 1901, par. 4–6+2 Each builder is therefore called individually to take heed how he builds, working in co-partnership with God and working out salvation with fear and trembling while God works within to will and to do.Ms 70, 1897, par. 17–21+1 That proving will soon come in the long-expected great day of God, when worthless material will be consumed and appear as it is and imperishable principle will endure forever.Ms 130, 1899, par. 30–33

Jesus Christ is the only foundation that can be laid, the sure foundation stone and eternal Rock on which church, character, and life must be built.Lt 66, 1908, par. 2–6+2 Christ crucified as the atonement for sin is the great central truth around which all truths cluster, and the foundation of every true church.Lt 39, 1902, par. 11–14 No one builds character alone but in union with the divine Builder and the Holy Spirit, and no man is to become a foundation for others to build upon.Lt 233, 1899, par. 6–7 The Bible as letters of instruction to strangers and pilgrims journeying to a heavenly country must be studied carefully and prayerfully so that no mistake is made in what is brought to that foundation.RH Jun 11, 1901

Planting as Paul did by first preaching the gospel and gathering believers at Corinth, and watering as Apollos did by further instruction helping the seed develop, are different assignments given by the Lord in the cause of God.Lt 66, 1908, par. 2–6+1 Neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything in himself, for God alone gives the increase and gives success to laborers who work as instruments under Him.Lt 66, 1908, par. 2–6+2 Believers are God's husbandry and God's building and laborers together with God, tilling literal land with faithful skill in plowing, harrowing, and preparing for seed, trees, and harvest, and laboring painstakingly upon hardened heart-soil so the Word as gospel seed finds favorable soil and yields a harvest.Ms 70, 1897, par. 17–21+2 Every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor, and God cannot work through those who make no effort, so faithful earnest effort in cooperation with Him is required, with the will in full submission and harmony with His will against Satan's working.Lt 66, 1908, par. 2–6+3

The passage belongs to Paul's correction of division, envy, strife, prejudice, jealousy, and party spirit among those claiming to believe.Ms 130, 1901, par. 25–26+1 To say I am of Paul or I am of Apollos, to link only to the man under whose labors light was received, to stand as independent atoms, to take sides while refusing harmony with brethren, and to condemn a minister because he emphasizes another phase of truth or presents the Word in a different way, is to be carnal and to walk as men, as babes fed with milk and unsanctified through the truth.Ms 130, 1901, par. 25–26+2 Such cementing to a man and tying up in separate bundles is dangerous ground needing reconversion, lest claimed conversion become a stumbling block, hinder the manifestation of the Spirit, and divide what should be glorified in love and harmonious action with each strengthening the other.Ms 130, 1901, par. 25–26+2 Therefore no one is to glory in men, to be puffed up for one minister against another, or to judge brethren for not counting his words and actions perfection, but to humble the heart and judge nothing before the time until the Lord comes to bring hidden things to light, while a builder who draws apart over misconceived opinions and builds in self-confidence after his own notions without reference to brethren lays only rubbish upon the foundation that the declaring day will expose.Ms 130, 1901, par. 30–33+1 The first, second, and third chapters are to be read with much prayer, showing that the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those given to worldly pursuits and sharp business traits, that not many wise, mighty, and noble after the flesh are called, and that God chose foolish, weak, base, despised, and nonexistent things to confound the wise and bring to nothing things that are so that no flesh glories, with Christ made unto believers wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.Lt 56, 1893, par. 22–25

The day that declares every person's work is the day of judgment, the last day, the great day of God soon to come, the end of all things and the hereafter when records are traced.Lt 105, 1901, par. 4–6+4 On that day what was built upon Jesus Christ the foundation is exposed just as it is, because the day declares it by revealing fire that tries every man's work of what sort it is, when God places His estimate upon the work of each one.Lt 105, 1901, par. 4–6+2 It is for eternal interest to lay right material on that foundation and peril to the soul to mingle selfishness with the offering, for each person is responsible for how he builds in character-building and every one will be tested to see whether his conversion is real.Ms 130, 1899, par. 30–33 As fire reveals the difference between gold, silver, precious stones and wood, hay, stubble, so the day of judgment will test characters and show the difference between character formed after Christ's likeness and character formed after the likeness of the selfish heart, where one hour of transgression is great loss.Ms 130, 1899, par. 30–33 Work that endures brings a reward, while work that is burned brings loss, though the worker himself may still be saved.Lt 105, 1901, par. 4–6+2

The fire tries true quality by God's standard, not by outward appearance but by heart-purity brought into the work, and God alone can discern the materials.Ms 130, 1899, par. 30–33+1 Motives, words, actions, and use of time are measured against God's written word, the law, and the Bible standard, and every man's work is to be tested and brought into judgment and rewarded as his works have been.SG4 169.2–170.2+2 The Lord looks upon the work that comes from the hands of His people and judges every piece of work to see of what sort it is.Lt 187, 1902, par. 10 That testing applies to the duty of every Christian to engage in the self-denying, self-sacrificing enterprise of saving souls, caring unselfishly for souls placed in the arms of the church and training them for heaven as co-workers with Christ, instead of refusing duty with excuses and leaving souls to perish.Ms 14, 1889, par. 6–7 Those who built worthless works can still be pardoned if they repent because of God's great mercy, though their works are destroyed.Lt 280a, 1904, par. 5

The fire includes the final conflagration that consumes worldly work, in which work built with worthless, perishable materials will be consumed and lost, while work built with lasting materials will endure and shine more brightly through the fire.ST Nov 20, 1884+1 Unfaithfulness in spiritual and eternal matters brings lasting loss throughout endless ages, and a life that excludes Christ and relies on its own judgment is unfaithful and receives the reward its works deserve.ST Nov 20, 1884+1 The same fire also represents present testing by affliction and trials, which expose hidden falseness, pride, and selfishness while consuming what is worthless, so that what is pure may remain.4T 85.1 It is the fire of Satan's temptations laying snares for one and another, where yielding to temptation is losing the battle, with the end of earth's history so near that there is no room to fail if heaven is to be gained.Ms 111, 1909, par. 20–22 It is also God's work as refiner purifying as silver and gold, linked with becoming new in heart and life, and with Christ's coming as refining trial, and even with divine correction and appeal such as the fire that destroyed the Review and Herald Office, sparing lives so workers could recognize God's warning, repent, and learn the lesson He intended.STB 66.3–67.1+1

The revealing brings hidden things to light from heavenly books and records before angels and men, with deficiencies laid open and a by-and-by coming when each person's account in the heavenly records will be balanced.20MR 324.5–325.2+1 God's building is the building of human character, which is the most splendid workmanship, while even the most splendid building that human art can produce is liable to come to nothing when revealed and tested.20MR 324.5–325.2 Every person must therefore have a true, living experience and have God's righteousness going before him so that the glory of God will be his rear guard in that day of revealing.20MR 324.5–325.2 The day of the Lord will declare and bring to light what is not yet made manifest, exposing secret unfaithfulness such as wasting influence instead of helping discouraged strugglers and becoming spiritually dead in Satan's service.LSEGW 157.2+1 At the same time every sacrifice, every self-denial, and every pang of anguish endured for His sake, even overwork that crushes the spirits and ruins health and leaves the worker unrecognized and unrewarded on earth, is faithfully chronicled in heaven and will bring its reward when that day reveals it.LSEGW 157.2+3

Gold, silver and precious stones are sound, faithful and thorough work that abides the trial and is imperishable and durable for time and eternity, shining brighter through the fire while worthless material is consumed and exposed as it is.Ms 130, 1899, par. 30–33+4 They are fruit which remains because fires cannot consume them, the same kind of work done in the world in earnest organized effort with minds drawn away from self and centered upon the Redeemer.6MR 212.3+2 The building materials also represent people gained through ministry, those of true moral worth who have been refined by grace and affliction and whose obedience, love and self-sacrifice reflect their Lord, so that they endure the burning day as living stones even when carnal minds and unsanctified characters disguised by seeming righteousness are exposed.SLP 155.1–2+2 Work built by worldly effort rather than on the foundation proves worthless, while what is taken from the Word stands the test, and one who brings worthless material may save his own soul yet have nothing to show for his life-work.8RED 77.3–78.3+2

That enduring material is Christlike character and pure doctrine built on the foundation through humble faith.Ms 130, 1899, par. 30–33+2 It is humility and love, hour-by-hour dependence on grace to sanctify and cleanse from moral impurity, true simple humble faith, steadfast principle, heart-purity brought into the work, unselfish principles, integrity and unity, living the truth daily, receiving the Holy Spirit, and discerning divinity and atonement, for the estimate is not by outward appearance but by purity of heart and whether conversion is real.Ms 130, 1899, par. 30–33+3 It is faith, truth and righteousness that can be substantiated syllable by syllable from the Word and that will stand the sophistry of the last days, held in purity without mixture with falsehood, while manufactured tests, false claims to truth, heresies, sophistries, vain interpretations and misinterpretations that unsettle the foundation laid in experience since 1844 are rubbish to be consumed.STB 586.3+2 The material brought is a sample of character and makes every difference, consisting of thank offerings and praise offerings, kindly deeds and self-denying sacrifices which can never perish and are more enduring and more valuable than the gold of Ophir.Ms 130, 1899, par. 30–33+2

In ministry that enduring material is diligent work to save precious souls.6MR 212.3+4 It is consistent example, using means and influence and wisdom and tact to gather straying children and relatives and neighbors and friends into the fold, to enlighten souls, push the triumphs of the cross, and labor for the salvation of fellow beings, securing a harvest of souls and a rich reward and heavenly treasure.5T 351.2+2 God requires not merely personal salvation but work that brings others to Him, producing redeemed people through faith, hope and love, so that when the redeemed are gathered home they will cast their glittering crowns at the feet of the Redeemer, fill heaven with music, exclaim Worthy is the Lamb that was slain and sitteth upon the throne, and tell those whose influence through Him led them to accept truth of heavenly origin and come into right relation to God that they were won by them.6MR 212.3+2 By contrast, giving the life to gathering earthly treasure while leaving children and relatives and neighbors and friends unsaved, and spending strength of brain, bone and muscle in self-serving and in activities that consume time and effort without serving Him or helping others toward salvation, will not abide the test and leaves a person destitute.5T 351.2+2 Those who help bring souls to Him will share in the joy of seeing them saved, though He alone is their Redeemer, and those whose work abides will receive a glorious reward when gathered about the throne of God and the Lamb as accepted ones with sins blotted out.ST Jan 28, 1886+1

In character it is daily cooperation with the divine Builder in erecting the building upon the sure foundation, not building alone and not becoming a foundation for others, with consecration of body, soul and spirit to be transformed to His likeness and not conformed to the principles of worldlings.Lt 233, 1899, par. 6–7+2 Every human being is to a great extent the architect of his own character, building day by day with intellectual and moral power, wrought point by point and stroke upon stroke each day and every hour as stones laid on the eternal Rock, where the faculties are separate and distinct yet each depends on the other for success.Lt 233, 1899, par. 6–7+2 One stone mislaid affects the whole building, so there must be no flaw and every stone must be perfectly laid and riveted to the Rock, with great carefulness about spirit, words and actions, since each part must bear the divine mark and will be tested.Lt 129, 1905, par. 7–11+2 To take heed how to build means to see that the building is founded upon the eternal Rock and to cultivate God-given powers now to form characters for usefulness here and for a higher life hereafter, with pure noble deeds, compassion, patience, charity and right words and actions, and with exact care as in the temple and no cheap or haphazard work, so the structure is readied to endure the pressure of storm and tempest when every case is revealed and everyone is seen just as they are.Lt 129, 1905, par. 7–11+4

Wood, hay and stubble are cheap, perishable, worthless building that cannot endure the trial but is exposed as it is and consumed and lost when the fire tries what sort the work is.Ms 130, 1899, par. 30–33+4 The life-work laid in self-satisfied labor amounts to nothing and is lost for time and lost to God for eternity, with no reward for mere profession, and years of such building leave the whole lifework in ashes.Lt 70, 1886, par. 8–9+2 Work founded on false human ideas and work needlessly spent on what God never sent men to do, which helps clothe the church with filthy garments and urge it into false positions, is that same combustible material that the fire will expose.Ms 83, 1903, par. 3–5+1 Simple, economical and safe work for the progress and upbuilding of Christ's kingdom endures, while mingling selfishness with the offering imperils the soul and calls for godly jealousy lest the heart be stolen away into Satan's lines.Ms 130, 1899, par. 30–33+2

That worthless material is cheapness, selfishness, false religion, self-indulgence, speculative theories and teaching mingled with human philosophy that can never sanctify.Ms 130, 1899, par. 30–33+1 It is manufactured tests, false claims to truth, heresies, sophistries, vain interpretations and misinterpretations of Scripture, fables, false science, human suppositions and inventions, and truth unsettled by rubbish that cannot be substantiated syllable by syllable from the Word.Ms 130, 1899, par. 30–33+2 It is pressing unsupported, divisive theories upon an established church and building after one's own notions without reference to brethren, as well as worldly policy, harshness, censure, faultfinding, gossip, accusations against fellow believers, and criticism.Ms 130, 1899, par. 30–33+2 Such building brings false teachings and human suppositions into God's cause, and those who spend years putting hay, wood and stubble on the foundation mislead others who take their errors into their minds and may never repent.Ms 160, 1904, par. 6–11+1 Deep, thorough, imperishable work is required because the salvation of the soul is precious and at stake in the kind of material built upon the foundation, and the builder of combustible work may himself be consumed with it.Ms 160, 1904, par. 6–11+2

It is also life spent for self and the world by economizing and withholding money from plans to broaden and build up God's work and robbing God, while devoting time and physical and mental powers to selfish, worldly purposes.Lt 70, 1886, par. 8–9+2 It is seeking earthly treasure and gain and selfish devotion to earthly possessions rather than faithful stewardship of means and abilities to win souls, with time spent in selfish indulgence wasted and the reward that might have been gained eternally forfeited.Lt 70, 1886, par. 8–9+2 It is selfish spending of entrusted money on photographs, ornaments, dress, amusements, sports, pets and crocheted articles instead of spreading truth, needlessly spending on works God never gave, and indulging appetite, liquor, tobacco, tea, drugs and excitement with idle dreaming.Ms 21, 1893, par. 27–28+2 It is abusing physical, mental and moral powers till self is injured almost beyond recovery, piling wood, hay and stubble upon the foundation that the fire will consume.Lt 70, 1886, par. 8–9+2

It includes feeding mind and church on what does not sanctify, for education gained from worldly books disconnected from God and apart from His Word is wood and stubble to be consumed in the last great conflagration and has no lasting value in His sight.STE 153.2+2 Superficial, fictitious influences built into life through reading and learning cannot stand, and filling the mind with light reading, cheap reading, fiction and improper literature is worthless material brought to the foundation and sin because the mind belongs to God.Lt 6, 1886, par. 9+2 The mind becomes the same character as the food it is fed, so feeding on fiction and falsehood makes the affections depraved and life fictitious, while solid truth from close searching of the Scriptures, living realities and practical truth, cannot be consumed.Lt 6, 1886, par. 9+2 So also publishing novels, romances and amusing articles without saving truth, placing before students books tainted with infidelity and unsound theories, studies that eclipse faith and leave them unable to receive the Word with reverence, and false sentiments in schools are that combustible building.STE 153.2+2 All unnecessary, cheap and insignificant matters must be weeded from courses of study and only studies of real value retained that summon the mind to the great themes of salvation and secure the life which measures with the life of God.STE 153.2+1

Parental and teaching neglect is that same material, for parents who neglect or indulge their children and let them follow their own way because it is easier build only wood, hay and stubble and fill churches with defective characters.Ms 102, 1899, par. 11+1 Many failures and crimes of men and women result from ignorance and gross neglect by those whose duty was to guide childish feet in the right way, whereas staunch principles and integrity that bless the world owe much to careful religious training by a praying mother whose moments are priceless in the solemn day of accounts.Ms 102, 1899, par. 11+1 Occupation with unimportant matters while hearing the Word yet not carrying the bread of life to neighbors leaves no experience of helping others look to Jesus and is like wood, hay and stubble.Ms 102, 1899, par. 11+1 Teaching of Bible lessons, Sabbath-school influences, and the work of educating and training the young must therefore withstand the test, for youth are accountable for opportunities and light received, and eternity will reveal how that training was done.TSSW 22.1+2 Negligent parents and children may yet be saved if they awake to defects, repent and are converted, but not in the same light as the faithful, for as one star differs from another in glory so it will be with the saints in light.Ms 102, 1899, par. 11+1

Work that stands the test receives a reward measured by the labor itself, spoken as approval for faithfulness, given as treasure laid up in heaven, as crowns, as joy in souls won, and as fitness for the kingdom and for eternal life.Lt 105, 1901, par. 4–6+4 The enduring work is laid on Jesus Christ as foundation, and its quality is exposed when the day declares it by fire trying of what sort it is.Lt 105, 1901, par. 4–6+4 A person may repent and be saved even when the life work has failed, yet abiding work brings the reward for faithful cooperation.Lt 231, 1903, par. 13–15+4

Work that burns brings loss, for the whole lifework perishes and is left in ashes, the reward that might have been gained as a faithful steward is eternally forfeited, the host of souls that might have been saved through neglect are lost, and evil sown in others may keep growing even after repentance.Ms 70, 1897, par. 17–21+4 Years of improvement spent for selfish worldly purposes, withholding means and economizing God's work, are consumed in the fires of the last day.Ms 70, 1897, par. 17–21+2 One who builds with worthless material may have nothing to show for his life work, merely saving his own soul, while God requires work that brings others to Him so the redeemed cast crowns before the Redeemer and testify of the influence that led them to truth.21MR 398.6–399.3+2 One hour of transgression is great loss, and cheap, selfish, false and speculative building can never sanctify.Ms 130, 1899, par. 30–33+1

A builder whose work is burned may himself still be saved, yet so as by fire, barely saved as a brand plucked from the burning, if he sees his wrong, sincerely repents, is converted, and is purified and pardoned by mercy.Lt 231, 1903, par. 13–15+4 The same testing warns against false teaching that leads people astray, and calls for care that spirit, words and actions bear God's mark.Lt 129, 1905, par. 7–11+2 In some cases the builder may be consumed with his hay, wood and stubble, because the salvation of the soul is precious and at stake in the kind of material built upon the foundation.Ms 59, 1900, par. 8+2

The day decides eternal destiny, showing whether character is formed after Christ's likeness or after the selfish heart, whether conversion is real, whether one is fit for heaven, hears the welcome into joy, inherits the kingdom, and receives life measuring with God's life, or is found unfit, lost, and refused entrance.Ms 130, 1899, par. 30–33+4 Building rightly day by day as an overcomer, going daily to Christ for help with weakness, doing His work with watching and prayer and bringing His virtues into daily life, makes ready for His appearing and prepared to receive eternal life, while failing in character building will not stand the test and results in loss of eternal life.Ms 130, 1899, par. 30–33+2 Many who think they are prepared are not prepared, and those who know the warnings yet refuse to be convinced that the end is at hand will be convinced only by the reality itself, when it is too late to turn to God.Ms 111, 1909, par. 20–22+2

Each must therefore take heed how he builds, gaining his own salvation through Christ and using God-given talents to warn and invite souls for whom Christ paid the price with His own blood, with reward in proportion to faithfulness in cooperating with God.Ms 59, 1900, par. 8+4 He must examine his own work rather than finding fault with others, throw whole energy into the work, consecrate all powers to do God's will, act well his part, and do deep, thorough, solid work with no sham, no defective timbers, and no building from man's own standpoint and finite judgment, but after God's order with an eye single to His glory.Ms 59, 1900, par. 8+3 In every church many who have built wood, hay and stubble must repent and be converted, humbling themselves before the Lord, making purification by His Spirit their first work, cleansing the temple, and seeking reformation now while probation lasts, for the test comes by fire through which each will pass in ordeal and each case will be decided from the books.Lt 307, 1904, par. 8+3

Ministers and teachers build the church upon Jesus Christ as the only foundation, with Christ crucified as atonement for sin as the great central truth around which all truths cluster, taking heed how they build whether with gold, silver, precious stones or with wood, hay, stubble.Lt 39, 1902, par. 11–14+1 Planting is first preaching the gospel and gathering believers and watering is further instruction helping the seed develop, yet neither planter nor waterer is anything in himself, for believers are God's husbandry and God's building and laborers together with God, God alone gives the increase and success as they work as instruments under Him, and each shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.Lt 39, 1902, par. 11–14+1 They must point souls to Christ as the only means of salvation and not attach men to themselves, presenting the Word of God and truth to other minds from doctrines and influences cherished in the heart, studying the Bible carefully and prayerfully, praying, and testing themselves by the Word syllable by syllable rather than by any man's say-so.Lt 39, 1902, par. 11–14+2 Gold, silver, and precious stones are faith, truth, and righteousness that can be substantiated from the Word and will stand the sophistry of the last days, and as people they are those of true moral worth, Christians refined by God's grace and affliction whose obedience, love, and self-sacrifice reflect Christ and endure as living stones, while hay, wood, and stubble are manufactured tests, false claims to truth, heresies, sophistries, vain interpretations and misinterpretations of Scripture, worldly effort, carnal minds and unsanctified characters covered by seeming righteousness, and all that unsettles the foundation laid in experience since 1844.SLP 155.1–2+2 Only work done as laborers together with God, bringing people to the foundation and building them into a firm structure by divine power that breaks hearts, making them purer, better, and holier, will abide the fires of the last great day, as shown when the apostles' work endured fierce opposition, imprisonment, torture, and death yet the church grew as new workers added lasting material.Ms 29, 1893, par. 8+1 One who has spent years laying hay, wood, and stubble may himself repent and be saved as by fire, but his loss is great because others charmed by his false, pretentious building follow his example and take his errors into their minds, and those misled souls may never repent and cannot be cured, for building for time is building for eternity and the fire will consume all that rubbish and make manifest whether the work is firm and abiding.Ms 29, 1893, par. 8+1

No builder is to glory in men, to be puffed up for one minister against another, or to judge brethren for not counting his words and actions perfection, but to humble the heart and judge nothing before the time until the Lord comes to bring to light the hidden things of darkness and make manifest the counsels of the hearts.Ms 130, 1901, par. 30–33+1 To say I am of Paul or I am of Apollos, to link up only with the one man under whose labors light was received, to stand as independent atoms and separate bundles, to withdraw from some and bind up with others, to cherish envy, strife, prejudice, jealousy, and party division, and to condemn a minister because he emphasizes another phase of truth or presents the Word in a different way, is carnal, babes in Christ fed with milk, walking as men and not sanctified through the truth.Ms 130, 1901, par. 25–26+2 Such self-confidence, personal notions and plans, misconceived opinions, and estrangement from brethren, building after one's own notions, plans, and desires without reference to brethren, lays only a mass of supposition as rubbish of wood, hay, and stubble that the declaring day and trying fire will expose, and those cemented to a man need reconversion lest their claimed conversion become a stumbling block to sinners.Ms 130, 1901, par. 25–26+2 Ministers by whom men believed are one in object though their work differs, and all must be strengthened by one great Source and one Agency, glorifying God in love and harmonious action with each strengthening the other, counseling together and depending on the Spirit instead of tearing down what God builds, for God will not tolerate such differences nor send His Spirit as Comforter and Strengthener until His people obey to be all of one mind, love as brethren, be pitiful and courteous.Ms 67, 1900, par. 14–16+1 Those who receive sanctifying truth in love of its principles become channels and representatives of grace to the world and to angels and to men, making straight paths for their feet lest the lame be turned out of the way, living in meekness, humility, and wholehearted kindness, holding unity instead of division in the spirit that should control believers, while work done against God is recorded in heaven and each must answer to God for its results in the judgment of the last day.16MR 196.1–2+1

All are called individually to take heed how they build in co-partnership with God, working out salvation with fear and trembling while God works within to will and to do His good pleasure, with faithful earnest effort in cooperation with Him.Ms 70, 1897, par. 17–21+2 Being God's husbandry means both skill in tilling, plowing, harrowing, and preparing literal land for seed, trees, and harvest, and painstaking labor on hardened heart-soil by those who watch for souls and must give an account, breaking it up and subduing it so the gospel seed of the Word finds favorable soil and produces a harvest that rewards the effort.Ms 70, 1897, par. 17–21 God honors men by making them fellow workers with Himself so that humanity may touch humanity and with the divine Worker lay hold upon infinity, with a power working within subduing soul, body, and spirit, yet He cannot work through those who make no effort, and spiritual weakness comes from failing to do their part.RH Jun 11, 1901+1 Earnest, thorough work with an eye single to God's glory after God's order is required to stand against Satan, who began to work as soon as the plan of salvation was devised, by following Christ's example in full submission with the will in harmony with His will, uniting with heavenly angels in ministering to others as God's helping hand and teaching those in darkness the truths that gave light, while God gives still better understanding, strengthens the mental faculties as He strengthened Daniel's mind, and communicates apt words through the angel standing by, known by faith through prayer for faith that works by love and purifies the soul and seeking living power from above.RH Jun 11, 1901+1 Building gold, silver, and precious stones means acting well one's part by throwing whole energy into the work, consecrating all powers to do God's will and cooperating with the power offered in soul-saving, health, publishing, and tent work with daily experience, producing work as durable as eternity for time and eternity, while building hay, wood, and stubble means choosing one's own course and carrying out one's own will despite the same opportunities and access to the same power, marking one as an unfaithful servant in rebellion against God.Ms 163, 1897, par. 1+1 The test comes not by flood as in Noah's day but by fire through which each passes in ordeal, and each is charged with gaining his own salvation through Christ and using God-given talents to give God's warning and invitation to souls for whom Christ paid the price with His own blood, so that in proportion to faithfulness in cooperating with God will be the reward, while loss of his own soul brings also charge for souls that might have been saved.Ms 13, 1898, par. 12–13

Character is the building each person erects himself, day by day and hour by hour, brick by brick and stone by stone, point by point and stroke upon stroke, in the small duties, kindnesses and self-denials that form usefulness here and fitness for the higher life hereafter.CT 222.2+4 To take heed how to build is to see that the work rests on Christ as the eternal Rock and sure foundation, cultivating the intellectual and moral powers God has given and cooperating with Him as He works to perfect the structure into a symmetrical holy temple of pure noble deeds.CT 222.2+3 The faculties are separate and distinct yet each depends on the other, so there must be no flaw and every stone must be perfectly laid and riveted, for one stone mislaid or laid wrong affects the whole building and a character built with deficiencies and selfishness, misshapen by corrupt action and impure words, will not withstand temptation.2MR 340.2+3 Only what is so founded and guarded in temper, speech and treatment of others will endure the pressure of storm and tempest when the coming day of test and revelation tries what sort the work is and every person is seen just as he is.CT 222.2+4

Home life and ordinary daily duties of husband, wife, mother and child belong to that same manifesting and trial by fire, measuring family faithfulness, self-denial and the use of God-given talents and means.Lt 51a, 1895, par. 23–26+2 Faithfulness in marriage vows endures, requiring the husband bound by God's law to guard mind and heart from impurity, to refuse sentimentalism, spiritualistic affection and the enemy's working of the mind that would put the wife second for another woman, to be true as steel in thought, word and deed, and to keep an unspoiled record as one who fears God and keeps His commandments lest he spoil himself and the one made his favorite.10MR 185.3–187.2 Self-denying training of children and reforming the home endure, while parental neglect and indulgence that let children follow their own way because it is easier lay only wood, hay and stubble and fill churches with defective characters, leaving negligent parents and children not on the same footing as the faithful who follow God's will and way and devote life to Christ, though if they awake to defects they may yet be saved as one star differs from another in glory.Lt 51a, 1895, par. 23–26+2 Honest dealing endures as imperishable gold, silver and precious stones, so that repaying an honest debt is Christian duty while refusing to repay is defective character exposed as wood, hay and stubble, and busy activity that does not prepare souls or glorify God will be consumed leaving no lasting result and only bare salvation as through fire.21MR 28.2–29.1+1

Stewardship of money, business, influence and ability is tried for quality not quantity, testing whether assigned spiritual and ordinary work blesses souls and glorifies God.Lt 70, 1886, par. 8–9+1 Unselfish giving endures: offerings and firstfruits placed in the Lord's treasury to accomplish great good and to spread truth, support missionaries and supply reading matter to those in darkness are gold, silver and precious stones laid on the foundation, and giving for God's cause is the best recreation bringing happiness without discontent, jealousy or ill feeling.Lt 70, 1886, par. 8–9+2 Economizing God's work by withholding means from plans to broaden and build it up, devoting time and physical and mental powers to selfish worldly purposes, and spending the Lord's money on self-gratification lay wood, hay and stubble and rob God, and the fires of the last day will consume such years and leave the whole lifework in ashes.Lt 70, 1886, par. 8–9+2 That perishable spending includes needless ornaments, worldly exchanging of gifts and programs invented merely to amuse children, and selfish use of entrusted money for photographs and pictures of human faces instead of spreading truth, which embezzles the Lord's goods, stands as a silent witness against the spender, forfeits the reward that faithful stewardship might have gained, and loses the host of souls that might have been saved through neglect.ST Jan 8, 1885+4 God gave all powers to prove whether men are worthy to be entrusted with eternal riches, requiring development of abilities to the highest standard not in farming or building but in winning souls to Christ as stewards of grace, and the unfaithful who pursue gain at the cost of mission, misapply dedicated funds and neglect that work, if saved at all, are saved only as by fire.Lt 70, 1886, par. 8–9+1

Impure, proud and loveless traits are consumable material that cannot build spiritual experience but degrade and corrupt the powers, yielding only brief flashes of goodness passing like morning dew.Ms 17, 1901, par. 18+1 Rotten timbers of licentiousness, the filthy garments of impurity clung to as if precious even by men of intelligence in responsible positions while signs are fulfilled, will be revealed in the day of God and decide unfitness to enter the mansions above, causing loss of heaven and an eternity of bliss.SLP 26.2 Unsanctified cleverness and ability under profession of godliness, erecting false standards, amusing associates with wit and cheap nonsense and dragging others down, with indulged appetite, unrestrained inclination to evil, self-rule, pride, envy, jealousy, bitterness, evil-speaking and amusement, is hay, wood and stubble that in the day when each receives according to deeds done in the body will be made manifest, tried and perish with eternal loss, exposing present fun and frolic as great loss and leaving counterfeit gold.Ms 134, 1898, par. 11–13+3 Profession without conversion and work shaped by self rather than Christian character prove unworthy, for only a life shaped by charity and the sanctifying power of truth, with strong traits under control of the Spirit through right education looking beyond present gratification to the future, will stand.Lt 29, 1886, par. 12+2

Genuine thorough work bears God's stamp, for God has given to every man his work and puts His mark on all that is genuine, while spurious, sham and defective work is of no value in His sight.STB 587.2 Everything is therefore to be done with thoroughness and no sham, and thorough work in school makes education worth double in the afterlife compared with leaving school with a defective education.STB 587.2