“And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.” (II Corinthians 12:15 NKJV)
There is something to be said for taking care of yourself--getting rest, proper diet, and some exercise. After all, our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Yet, we are not taking these bodies with us. We have a limited shelf life. I've quoted this truth hundreds of times, "Only one life, 'twill soon be past; Only what's done for Christ, will last." Paul speaks of his willingness to "spend and be spent" for the cause of Christ--to invest his last ounce of energy on behalf of the church. Though there is nothing we can take with us, we can invest in the eternal and send it on ahead where it will pay rich dividends in Heaven's reward. So, my prayer today is that I would not be a pampered preacher, but a poured-out pastor who when he reaches the finish line of earth's race does not have a drop of gas left in the tank!
