Builders - 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

Along with the metaphor of planting and watering, Paul also gives a metaphor about building structures, saying that he “laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon.” The end result is a building that all can enjoy, or in the case of the metaphor, a person who’s testimony can grow and strengthen all around them. But again, the reward for the builders isn’t the building, because it might not work out like that. Likewise, our reward for building the foundation of the gospel in others isn’t their conversion, that’s not guaranteed or really, any of our business. Our reward for our labor in the vineyard is our own strengthened testimonies and other blessings that the Lord has for us.

The IM explains, “Paul used the metaphor of planting and harvesting to illustrate that missionaries are instruments in the hands of God, but it is ‘God that giveth the increase,’ meaning that God causes the changes in people’s hearts and souls that lead to conversion. In the Book of Mormon, Ammon expressed similar sentiments (see Alma 26:11-14).” The verses in Alma that the IM references gives a good perspective on the rewards that come when we help God with his work, saying, “Behold, how many thousands of our brethren has he loosed from the pains of hell; and they are brought to sing redeeming love, and this because of the power of his word which is in us, therefore have we not great reason to rejoice? Yea, we have reason to praise him forever, for he is the Most High God, and has loosed our brethren from the chains of hell.”
As illustrated in these verses, God is the one who wrought the change of hearts in the people termed “our brethren.” Ammon doesn’t say “we saved them,” but instead rejoices because “God saved them.” The reward comes in the joy of knowing that their “brethren” were now going to have eternal life through Christ. And there are rewards that come in terms of blessings from God to us, according to his own personal plan for us. It seems that part of those blessings will come as we strengthen our own testimonies, because as we encounter trials we will be able to stand firm and be comforted in our knowledge of and relationship with God.
Like Paul says while describing the judgment at the last day, “it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved.” When we encounter trouble in this life, we suffer, but we shall be saved. This is really what I needed to hear today because I am tired and sad and just pretty burned out.