Paul was no beggar

Originally posted on August 15, 2009 – by Andre Piet

In the Christian world, sending out fundraising letters is very common. People who ask for support for themselves or organizations that make an urgent appeal for the generosity of people for their own work(ers).
In the life of Paul, the greatest laborer in the Evangel ever, we find NOTHING of this. Never did he appeal to individuals or assemblies to support him.
The following passages of Scripture show this.

providing for his own needs

33 I coveted NO ONE’S silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me.
Acts 20

Paul looks back on the shore of Miletus at his intensive labor in Ephesus and points out to his listeners that he never asked anyone for any support. He points to his hands and says: these hands provided for my needs and for those of others.

bringing the evangel without charge

14 Thus the Lord also prescribes that those who are announcing the evangel should be living of the evangel. 15 Yet I have not used not one of these things. (…)
18 What, then, is my wages? That, in bringing the evangel, I should place THE EVENGAL WITHOUT CHARGE, so as not to use my right in the evangel. 19 For, BEING FREE FROM ALL, I enslave myself to all, that I should be gaining the more…
1 Corinthians 9

It is true: God has prescribed that proclaimers of the Evangel should live of the Evangel, so that they could give their full attention to the Evangel and not be distracted by matters such as livelihood. But this is only half the story. Paul writes that he deliberately never made use of this right. Why not? Because Paul wanted to bring the Evangel without charge! Paul DEMONSTRATED what his Evangel is about: WITHOUT CHARGE – FREE – GRACE!

And then he adds: I am free from all… Paul was not employed by the assemblies he served. In that case he would not be free.

did accept compensation

8 I despoil other assemblies, getting wages from them, for your service, 9 and being with you and being in want, I burden no one, for my deficiency the brethren from Macedonia replenish, and in everything I keep myself from being burdensome to you, and shall be keeping it.
2 Corinthians 11

Paul freely accepted compensation from what was voluntarily given to him. But he did not ask for anything.

support welcome

15 Now you Philippians also are aware that, in the beginning of the evangel, when I came out from Macedonia, not one assembly has shared with me in an account of giving and getting except you only, 16 for, even in Thessalonica, once and again you send to me FOR MY NEEDS.
17 Not that I am seeking the gift, but I am seeking the fruit which is increasing for your account. 18 Now I have all and am SUPERABOUNDING; I have been filled full, having received from Epaphroditus the things from you, an odor of a fragrant smell, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 19 Now my God shall be filling your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4

Paul was glad with the support from Macedonia because it was sent to him as a free gift, without Paul asking for it.

burdening no one

9 For you remember, brethren, our toil and weariness, working night and day NOT TO BE BURDENSOME TO ANY OF YOU, we proclaim to you the evangel of God.
1 Thessalonians 2

Despite all the effort and exertion this brought upon himself, Paul never deviated from the principle of burdening no one and, if necessary, being willing to provide for his own livelihood.

an example to follow

7 For you yourselves are aware how you must be imitating us, for we are not disorderly among you, 8 neither do we eat bread gratuitously (=free) from anyone, but WITH TOIL AND LABOR we work night and day, not to be burdensome to any of you, 9 not that we have not the right, but to give ourselves to you as a model for you to imitate us.
2 Thessalonians 3

By his stance of burdening no one, Paul intended to set an example to follow:

1. bringing the Evangel without charge,
2. burdening no one,
3. being free from all.

Delen: