Gladly Spending and Being Spent 2 Corinthians 12:15

Paul the apostle told the church members in Corinth, “the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you:”, and he added, “for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.” In chapter twelve and verse fifteen of Second Corinthians, Paul told the church members, “I will gladly spend and be spent for you” where we read:

And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you;

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

The verse begins, “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you;” Paul began with the words, “and I will very gladly” which means “and Paul with great pleasure would” “spend” or “incur expense, be wasted and consumed” “and be spent” which refers to “Paul being exhausted by expending and being used up” “for you” or “on behalf and for the sake of the church members”. Paul considered it a “great privilege” to “incur expense” and be “used up” for the sake of the church members.

The verse goes on to say, “though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.”. Paul added the word, “though” which means “even if and although” “the more abundantly” or “to a greater, earnest and exceedingly above others degree” “I love you” which means “Paul would be fond of, well pleased and contented with the church members” “the less” or “to a worse and inferior degree” “I be loved” which means “the church members would be fond of, pleased and contented with Paul”. Even though Paul “loved” the church members to a greater degree, their reaction was to “love” him less.

When we think through these words of Paul, we see what a great controversy this was for him. The reaction from the church members to Paul's love was to love him less even though he would “spend and be spent” for them. In other words, the more he appreciated and loved them, the less they loved and appreciated him. This is the challenge for all who love the Lord Jesus Christ as their “Savior and Lord”. Many times people who are “loved” more, love back “less”. No one loved and loves people more than Jesus, and even though He was “spent” unto death for them, many reject Him. Perhaps as we consider these words, we shall realize the value in being “spent” for others, and when our “love” is not reciprocated, let us remember that not only Paul, but also Jesus knows exactly how that feels.

Next time Paul tells the church members, “I did not burden you”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then,

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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