June 15
“I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved . . . We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification. For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish,” 2 Corinthians 12:15, 19-20.
In the final chapters of his Second Epistle to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul writes about visiting the congregation for the third time. He reminded them of how he had labored among them in the past and that he was determined to do the same in the future.
He wrote, “I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls.” The apostle was very determined to do everything that he possibly could for the salvation of souls who were spiritually wavering. He was determined to put forth every effort for the salvation of those who refused to repent of their sins and hesitated to accept Jesus Christ as the only Savior. His efforts for the salvation of souls are summarized in the words, “I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls.” Today, some people would criticize Paul for being a workaholic!
Paul understood that his efforts to build the kingdom were not always appreciated. While he was showing his great love for people by calling them to repentance and faith, he was not always loved for what he was doing. It is still the same way today. People do not always appreciate your efforts as you speak to them about their sins and about the Lord Jesus as the only Savior. Remember how the people reacted when Stephen pointed out their sins and spoke of Jesus as the only Savior. They covered their ears! They did not want to hear any more. They ran at him and stoned him to death! He was not loved for telling them the truth!
On one occasion when the Lord Jesus identified Himself as the promised Messiah and Savior, the people became very angry, and, “They took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by,” John 8:59.
Paul reminded the Corinthians that he and his coworkers did everything out of love for them and for their spiritual growth. “We do all things, beloved, for your edification.” The apostles kept the salvation of souls before their eyes as the goal.
However, when Paul spoke of coming to Corinth for the third time, he feared that he would not find things as he had hoped. At the same time, he foretold that the Corinthians would not hear from him what they wanted to hear. “I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish.” However, the message would center around Christ as Lord and Savior.
In all our dealings with people, let us always keep before our eyes the salvation of souls. Our days are numbered, and our time is limited to be witnesses for Jesus. Let us not fail in fulfilling our calling.
“Can we, whose souls are lighted
With wisdom from on high,
Can we, to men benighted,
The lamp of life deny?
Salvation! Oh, Salvation!
The joyful sound proclaim,
Till each remotest nation
Has learned Messiah’s name.” Amen.