August 6

I seek not yours, but you. — 2 Cor 12:14

The desire of all true friendship is not to get, but to give, not to be served, but to serve.

In all Paul’s letters we find that he is eager to do people good, never having the desire to be profited by them. We have this in these words, “I seek not yours, but you.” He would not be a burden to them.

It was not the part of children to lay up for their parents, but for parents to lay up for their children, and he was to them as a father. He would most gladly spend and be spent for their spiritual welfare.

Paul’s interest in them was not fully appreciated, for the more he loved them the less did they love him. But this did not affect his care for them – he still loved them, and was very eager to do them good. He sought not theirs, but them.

This little sentence tells the whole story of true friendship. It is the true minister’s motto. It should be every man’s desire for his neighbor. It is always love’s motto – “Not yours, but you.”