Virginia Whitman, Illustrations from Nature, for Preachers Evangelists Speakers Writers, Grand Rapids (MI), Baker Book House, (1965), 1971, p. 94.

SERVICE, Reward

« Now if any man build upon the foundation gold, silver, precious stone, wood, hay stubble. »-1 Corinthians 3 :12 (See also Colossians 2 :7 ; 1 Peter 2 :4, 5)

The caddis worm, which is found under water (for instance, benetah stones or crawling on the bottom of streams or ponds), build a case in which to house itself. Usually these « portable shelters » are made from small pebbles or sticks that are fastened together by a glue spun from silk glands in the caddis insect’s mouth. Other times, if pebbles are not available, the caddis worm uses whatever is at hand : tiny snail shells, bits of colored glass, or other small bits of material. For lack of anything else, one captive caddis caterpillar used gold dust to form its case.

The Christian, too, can build with gold, or if he is not particular, with less durable materials : but such shoddy construction will not stand the test of fire, nor bring any reward…