Monday, October 11, 2010

Spend and Be Spent
By Elin Henderson

“And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls…”
II Corinthians 12:15a (NKJV)

If you ever want a study in determination and endurance when it comes to working with difficult people, look no further than the Apostle Paul! As I study his letters, I am amazed at his heart for the people with whom he worked. How many times he could have given up and said, “That’s it!! You people aren’t worth this much stress!” This verse in II Corinthians sums up his heart. He was willing to spend (give all he had) and be spent (be used up) to reach these difficult, often immature, irritating people.

It is even more interesting to see whom Paul was referring to when he speaks of spending and being spent. Was it unbelievers or believers? It was actually the believers. The ones who should know better, have truth, have the Holy Spirit…those are the ones he is addressing.

I sometimes find it easier to be spent and endure for those who don’t know Christ personally than for those who do. We realize the sacrifice that needs to be made to reach those who aren’t yet part of God’s family, but sometimes we forget that we are also called to spend and be spent for those who are. Paul had a dual purpose in his ministry: Always, he was seeking to reach out to those who had no knowledge of the truth, while at the same time, never losing heart to constantly point those who already knew Him back to the Lord. Paul didn’t think about what it would cost him, but rather what he could give!

So, the next time you find yourself frustrated with those inside God’s family of believers, whether you are in a ministry position or just part of a group of believers, think of the example of Paul. Are you willing to spend and be spent for their sakes? Let’s not count the cost, but do what it takes to point people to the Lord and to truth!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What are some ways (tangible and intangible) that we can spend ourselves for others?
2. Can you think of someone that you can “spend” yourself on in those ways?

FURTHER READING:
Philippians 2:5-11; Philippians 1:29; I Corinthians 9:19

Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson and her husband Phil serve as church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa. Elin is mother to ten-year-old Callie and seven-year-old Elias.
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