1 Cor 3:10-15

"By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, sliver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved--even though only as one escaping through the flames."

In a lot of ways these verses served as both an encouragement as well as a warning to me as I think about the ways I minister to, counsel and care for people in my life. It seems to me that Paul is ultimately calling his readers (and us) to live with integrity and excellence (i.e. give it our best and put our best effort forward), especially in the ways we pour into the lives of others. In other words, we ought to do it with care! So this was an encouragement to me to keep building up the lives of those around me while keeping in mind that it's not just me, but a collective work of many to build. Yet at the same time, it's a warning to do it with integrity and excellence because what I pour into others/what I build in the lives of others will be tested (i.e. quality control ;)). We'll be held accountable for everything we do in our lives, so we ought to be driven to live, counsel, minister, and befriend with integrity and excellence! And in the end, it's really a grace from God that we get to be involved in the shaping of others' lives! May God give us wisdom and courage to do it well, yet while not shying away from going forward/taking risks because we'll be kept accountable for our actions...