The definition of Agape love is “sacrificing self for the benefit of another.” So, we learn that inherent in this type of love is the one doing the loving “pays a price.”
The most famous verse in the Bible is an example of this: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16). Jesus Christ was the sacrificial lamb who paid the price, or penalty, for our sin. While doing so, he imputed his righteousness to us that we might be reconciled to God the Father. He certainly paid a great price for our benefit. He “spent” himself for us!
The Apostle Paul ministered to a group of church members in Corinth, and he had to address a lot of sinful issues to help those believers make right their relationship with God. The confrontation was not pleasant. Some of Paul’s sacrifice was risking his relationship with them. In his second letter to the Corinthian church, Paul shared some of his feelings with them and teaches us an important lesson. He wrote: “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.” (2 Corinthians 12:15 (NKJV).
From this statement it is obvious that Paul was paying a price for the benefit of the Corinthians. He was apparently reaching the point where he spent all that he had.
The sacrifice of these two, Christ and the Apostle Paul, help us understand more about what it means to “love others.” As we love, we get a glimpse into God’s love for us. We experience sacrifice, just like He did for our benefit, albeit to a lesser degree.
For the believer today, we are living with the responsibility of obeying two great commandments to love: Jesus said to him, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40).
What are you sacrificing to the benefit of others? How much are you “spending” of yourself?
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