By Joe Chesser
I’m not sure we fully grasp what Paul meant. I’m not sure we
want to.
When writing his second letter to the Corinthian church,
Paul felt spiritually and emotionally connected to them. The first time
he had been to Corinth he spent more than 18 months with them teaching them the
word of God (Acts 18.11). For a time he supported himself in Corinth by
tentmaking (Acts 18.3). Later, at some point, he had made a second trip to the
city, and was wanting to make a third one (2 Cor. 13.1). This brief history is
important to our understanding of what he said to the church in 2 Corinthians
12.15.
As he was planning his third trip to visit the church in
Corinth, Paul wanted to assure them that he would not be a financial burden to
them. He wasn’t interested in their money, goods or support. He was interested
only in their spiritual welfare: their relationship with God and with each
other (2 Cor, 12.14). To make his point as clear as possible, he wrote, “I will
most gladly spend and be spent for your souls” (2 Cor. 12.15).
That’s what I’m not sure we fully grasp, or maybe even want
to understand. What did Paul mean when he said he was willing to “spend and be
spent” for the sake of their souls? The answer is whatever it takes. For the
sake of their souls Paul was all in, he would hold nothing back, … and do so
with gladness. He was willing to spare no expense out of his own pocket; his
services would not cost them a penny. The root word used for “spend” and “be
spent” in this text was also used to describe the woman who had spent all her
money on doctors hoping to heal her issue of blood (Mark 5.26). Paul was
willing to spend all his money, time, possessions and energy so as not to be a
burden to them, like he willingly did in Thessalonica (1 Thess. 2.9; 2 Thess.
3.8). Any expense that would promote their salvation, he was willing to “spend
and be spent.” And he would do so with pleasure!
The natural question is “Why?” Why would Paul “spend and be
spent”? The only answer is love. The love of Jesus transformed his heart. Now,
instead of himself, Jesus was in his heart, and so were the Corinthians (2 Cor.
7.2-3). Paul is showing us a practical example of what Jesus meant when he said,
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross
daily and follow me” (Luke 9.23). Why? Because that’s what love does. Love
sacrifices self-interests to meet the needs of the ones who are loved.
This is not easy to do. This is not even easy to want to do
… unless we, like Paul, have the Spirit of Christ in our hearts. When we learn
to view our time, energy and money like Jesus does, when we learn to view the
lost like Jesus does, when we learn to view our spouse, family and friends like
Jesus does, and when we learn to view the church and our involvement with it
like Jesus does, then we will willingly “spend and be spent” for the sake of
souls … and do so gladly.
When Jesus offers you an opportunity to “spend and be spent”
for the sake of saving souls, how do you think you will respond? Reluctant and
stingy, or generous and joyful?
- Joe Chesser preaches for the Fruitland Church
of Christ, Fruitland, MO. He may be contacted at joeandareva@yahoo.com