2 Corinthians 12:15/ We Spend to Save

"I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?" 2 Corinthians 12:15

 If "spend to save" were said in the context of finance we'd have an oxymoron. Instead, Paul is talking about Gospel-driven, loving sacrifice for the people God had entrusted to Him. For Paul, spending his finite life to gain infinite souls was a deal. Paul considered that a bargain.  

 This sort of thinking has an "otherness," or "holiness" to it. The world doesn't think like this. People fly the flag of "YOLO" over their lives, which means "you only live once." In essence it means, "make the most of your life." This sentiment heads in the direction of truth, but never quite arrives. We should maximize our lives, that's true. We should see it as finite and steward it well, that's true. But for the world, YOLO means seeks as much pleasure and memorable experiences as you can before you die. It's maximizing your life to serve yourself. 

 For Paul, he means seek as many souls as you can before you die. Exchange what's precious to you—your time, energy, money, etcetera—for what's precious to God: the souls of people (2 Peter 3:9). It's maximizing your life to save others. We spend to save. 

 Only God can give us the desire and will-power to lay down our lives in this way. Pray for His grace this morning. Pray off a self-serving expenditure of your life. Pray the Kingdom would be a treasure for us, and that in our joy we'd go and sell all that we have to gain it. And that we'd spend our lives helping others gain this Kingdom we treasure so much. 

 If you want to dig deeper into this, need help, need prayer, or have questions—please reach out to us here: Roots Help & Prayer Form (https://www.rootscc.com/covid-19-help)

In Christ, 

Pastor Kevin