1 Corinthians 3:5-13

5Is Apollos important? Is Paul important? No! We are God's servants. We told you God's good news and you believed it. Each of us is doing the job which the Lord has given to us.

6When I told you God's good news, I was like someone who planted seeds. Then Apollos was like someone who gave water to the young plants. But it was God who caused everything to grow.

7The person who plants the seeds is not important. The person who gives water to the plants is not important. The important person is God, because he causes everything to grow.

8The person who plants and the person who gives water both have the same purpose. God will pay each person what is right for their work.

9Apollos and I work together as God's servants. You are like God's field that we work in. You are also like a building that belongs to God.

10I am like a good builder. God has given that job to me and he has helped me to do it well. I was the person who built the foundation. Now other people are building on that foundation. But each person must be careful how he builds.

11God has already put Jesus Christ as the only foundation of this building. So nobody can put any other foundation there.

12People may build on this foundation with gold, silver or valuable stones. Or they may build on it with wood, dry grass or leaves.

13One day, God will show clearly how good each builder's work is. God will put each person's work into a fire on that great day. The fire will show whether their work is good or bad.