Everyone expends themselves on something!
While reading about the Apostle Paul’s life, we see his focus: a heart for people. In this second letter to the Corinthians, towards the end, he says:
“So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well.” -2 Corinthians 12:15 (NIV)
Now, the immediate context is in regards to financial burden. He says “I will very gladly spend for you everything I have.” Paul didn’t want to be a financial burden to them.
But look what he says next, that he will also “expend” himself for them. Not just his money, but his very self! Other translations say he will be glad to “be expended for your souls.”
This is what it means to have Christ-like love. To expend yourself for others, for their very souls. Now what does it look like to expend yourself for others?
The metaphor Paul uses in the context of this verse gives us the answer. It looks like a parent/child relationship. Being expended for others, is like what a good parent does for their children. They give themselves to their children. Everything they have, all their love, all their energy.
This is how God loves us. Jesus expended Himself for us by dying on the cross for us! And as His followers, we’re to expend ourselves to other people.
Will you take a moment and pray, and ask God to show you who He wants you to love this week? How does he want you to expend yourself? Follow the Apostle Paul’s example (who was following Jesus’ example), and expend yourself for someone else!