• “Behold the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children” (2 Cor. 12:14).  Paul’s attitude: (1) living off financial support (though appropriate) meant that he was a burden to the givers, (2) he sought not their money but their spiritual benefit.  When was the last time you heard a Christian ministry say sincerely, “I do not seek yours, but you”?

 

• “When I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself” (2 Cor. 11:8).  Though Paul received gifts, it was important to him not to be a financial burden to the Corinthians.

 

• “For you remember, brethren, our labor and travail: for laboring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God” (1 Thess. 2:9).  Paul did not view it to be incumbent upon the believers to support him financially.  Instead, he diligently sought ways to avoid being chargeable to them.

 

• “Neither did we eat any man’s bread for naught; but wrought with labor and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you”  (2 Thess 3:8).  Paul viewed eating off the charitable gifts of the church as a poor testimony. 

 

• “For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again unto my necessity.  Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may about to your account” (Phil 4:16,17).  Paul received gifts from the church, but he did not desire the gifts.  When was the last time you heard a Christian ministry say to its potential supports “we do not desire a gift”?!

 

• “Even so has the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel,  But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.” (1 Cor. 9:14,15).  Where is this attitude among Christian ministries today?

 

• “I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.  You yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me” (Acts 20:33,34).   

So, how are our methods different from the methods of the "religious charlatans"?