Spending and Being Spent

Spending and Being Spent

And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls;

though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.

2 Corinthians 12:15

“My candle burns at both ends; It will not last the night; but ah, my foes, and my friends, It gives a lovely light!”  (Edna St. Vincent Millay).  At the heart of true Christianity is the spirit of self-sacrifice.  Christ’s life was a candle burning at both ends, casting light all about Him, warming those who came near Him, giving always giving, until the whole was consumed at Calvary, and the last embers died with the words, “It is finished.”  Those who are His dear servants, in the highest and noblest sense, have understood rightly, that what was true of Him must be true of them.  To an ungrateful, carnal, impertinent Corinthian congregation Paul wrote, “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.”  So it must be , if we will live lives as the true servants of Jesus Christ.

If we “spend” for those to whom Christ has called us to minister, then it means that we give to them all we have.  Our substance, our talents, our tears, our patience, our time, our best efforts, our prayers, yes, everything and anything which Christ has given to us we bestow upon them.  If we are “spent” for them then we give them, not just what we have, but what we are, and all of that.  When the candle has burned to its’ last moment there will be little mourning of it by those who basked in the light of it.  Their thought will be merely that another is necessary to take its’ place.  The Master, however, who placed it there will know that it performed its light giving function in its’ appointed place, and He is the One who counts.  Are you set in some obscure place to perform some thankless task?  Do you find that the more you give of your time, talents and tears the less you are appreciated by those for whom you made those sacrifices?  Rejoice that you stand in such a glorious company with the Christ you love, and the Apostle you admire.  You may burn briefly, but by God’s grace, burn brightly!  Your Master sees your service, and will not forget you!

Our glorious Lord and Living God,

we have so little time to perform those tasks

which Thou hast set before us.

Keep us burning brightly.

Let nothing hinder our shining for Thee.

Where the Bush is Burning

Tomm Tice