Crowd of Cares

2 Corinthians 11:28 Apart from the things which have not been mentioned, there is this: the crowd of cares pressing upon me daily, the anxious concern for all the churches.

As Paul was compelled to boast of His status, labor and affliction in his vindication of his apostolic ministry, he used a particular phrase "the crowd of cares pressing upon me daily, the anxious concern for all the churches". His crowd of cares were his anxious concern for the churches whom he cared for as his own children. What a pattern indeed! Perhaps, such a genuine and intimate care for the churches of God would have been more pressing than any outward suffering of persecution, however sever they may be. No wonder he could bold write in the next chapter, "v.15 But I, I will most gladly spend and be utterly spent on behalf of your souls". 

As parent, my wife and I, were deeply concerned for our children. In fact, she cared for them much more than I do. We would sacrifice anything for our own children. Because they are out of us, our very being reproduced. In the same manner, the spiritual children God has blessed us must be cared for as such, if not more. This crowd of cares would bow ones knee daily to prayer, praying a persevering and petitioning prayer for the spiritual welfare of the saints. Such cares does not come by assignment of responsibility; it comes organically by life. 

These days I have been burdened by the Lord for some churches and saints and also for new cities where there are yet to be raised up. The release of such deep burden through prayer is indeed a joy. Such burden drives me to pray and even intercede. And such genuine burden that comes from the Lord will one day be answered. Even, the Lord burdened me for some new cities, not knowing what's in there. But every morning, I pray and release the burden. As it was, it will also be, that the Lord will raise up many church through such prayer for cities where there is no testimony yet, and will also strengthen those churches already raised up but needs growth. A deep and genuine concerns as burdened by the Lord will also issue in "crowd of cares" for the saints and the churches prompting even to spend and be spent for the churches and the saints. Without this, work assignment will never bear any genuine fruit. And to not have such crowd of cares is truly a spiritual disaster. Lord save us from "burdenlessness".

May the Lord burden every servant of His to serve with a burden, even with crowd of cares-anxious concern for the saints and the churches.