Expendable
May 27, 2025 by Addison Crissone
Nate Saint, World War 2 pilot and missionary Martyr to Ecuador, one said in a small sermon delivered over the airways of a missions radio broadcast,
"In the last war, we were taught to recognize that, in order to obtain the objective,
we had to be willing to be expendable. This very afternoon, thousands of soldiers are known by their serial numbers
as men who are expendable.... We know there is only one answer to our country's demand that we share in the price of freedom.
Yet, when the Lord Jesus asks us to pay the price for world evangelization, we often answer without a word. We cannot go. We say it costs too much."
-Nate Saint, Through Gates of Splendor, pg. 52
"We had to be willing to be expendable..."
To be expendable is to be easily replaceable and insignificant—two things that we humans strive to never be. We do not want to be replaceable in our careers, families, churches, and beyond. This is understandable.
So many of us view our own selves as being irreplaceable and so very important that we could not possibly be labeled as insignificant.
And yet, Nate Saint viewed himself as insignificant and replaceable. Expendable. He prided himself on being 'expendable'.
But why?
To get the answer, look to the official definition of expendable-
"In the last war, we were taught to recognize that, in order to obtain the objective,
we had to be willing to be expendable. This very afternoon, thousands of soldiers are known by their serial numbers
as men who are expendable.... We know there is only one answer to our country's demand that we share in the price of freedom.
Yet, when the Lord Jesus asks us to pay the price for world evangelization, we often answer without a word. We cannot go. We say it costs too much."
-Nate Saint, Through Gates of Splendor, pg. 52
"We had to be willing to be expendable..."
To be expendable is to be easily replaceable and insignificant—two things that we humans strive to never be. We do not want to be replaceable in our careers, families, churches, and beyond. This is understandable.
So many of us view our own selves as being irreplaceable and so very important that we could not possibly be labeled as insignificant.
And yet, Nate Saint viewed himself as insignificant and replaceable. Expendable. He prided himself on being 'expendable'.
But why?
To get the answer, look to the official definition of expendable-
'Of little significance when compared to an overall purpose, and therefore able to be abandoned (or replaced),
and as an object, is designed to be used only once and then abandoned or destroyed.'
and as an object, is designed to be used only once and then abandoned or destroyed.'
Nate Saint knew that in the grander and much larger picture of God's plan and purposes, he was but a little instrument. He knew he had a purpose, yes, but he did not believe himself to be anything special or important. He knew that he was divinely designed to be used for his allotted purpose and then disposed of.
One thing we must ensure we know- he did not suffer from a bad case of self-pity or false humility- but rather, he shared in the same thoughts spoken by the Apostle Paul in the book of Acts-
One thing we must ensure we know- he did not suffer from a bad case of self-pity or false humility- but rather, he shared in the same thoughts spoken by the Apostle Paul in the book of Acts-
"But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and
the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."
-Acts 20:24
the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."
-Acts 20:24
You and I must be humble- in our homes, in our workplaces, in our churches- and beyond. We need to realize that God has a plan, and that plan does not always revolve around us. We need to find the purpose that God has allotted to you and remain faithful to it, grateful if his plan includes applause and recognition, and grateful if it is something quiet and unnoticed. So long as the Glory goes to God.
We need to be willing to be expendable.
We need to be willing to be expendable.
