Christians do not expect money and possessions in exchange for sharing the Gospel of Christ

2 Corinthians 12:14-21

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.

• Christians do not burden others for money, possessions, etc.
• Christians share the Spirit of Christ by putting the Gospel over self-gain.
• We are not defensive about materialism because we live for Jesus Christ.
• Holiness is something earthly desires cannot buy.

Christians do not burden others for money, possessions, etc. “Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.” 2 Corinthians 12:4 There is nothing we want from anyone relating to their money or possessions, we only want their soul to be right with God through Jesus Christ. We don’t want to put anyone out of anything. We want to be parents of the Gospel who provides and gives spiritual care for the children.

“And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.” 2 Corinthians 12:15 As followers of Jesus Christ, we are willing to be physically and emotionally spent for the sake of sharing the testimony of Jesus. The more we love others in the Spirit of Christ, the less we are loved in this world.

Those who govern by the mark of the beat insist on being the governing parents within the community, state, nation, and globally. They have established their parental authority through humanism rooted in the mark of the beast. They want to be the only source for money, possessions, physical comforts, and social interaction. They expect their children to be attuned to the thing that forms what they think, feel, and do as it synchronizes people to the mark of the beast. Christians are hated for sharing the love of God through Jesus Christ. Christians want the children to dedicate themselves as the home of the Holy Spirit.

Christians share the same Spirit of putting the Gospel over self-gain. “But be that as it may, I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile!” 2 Corinthians 12:16 We should always make it a practice to not expect anything from anybody, but to always extend the Gospel of Christ. In a sense, Paul was crafty when he sent his co-workers with the same behavior as his, not to take anything but only present the Gospel. “Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you? I urged Titus, and sent our brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?” 2 Corinthians 12:17-18 As followers of Jesus Christ, we all walk in the steps of His Spirit, which is to put the testimony of Christ over self-gain.

We are not defensive about materialism because we live for Jesus Christ. “Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification.” 2 Corinthians 12:19 Paul and his companions are not being defensive nor making excuses, rather they are setting an example to build up the Corinthians. Paul wants the Corinthians, and us, to know that the most important thing is that God sent His Son Jesus Christ as an atonement for sin, and whoever believes in Him will not die but have eternal life. Money, possessions, physical comforts, and social acceptance are not solicited in exchange for sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Holiness is something earthly desires cannot buy. “For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults;” 2 Corinthians 12:20 Asking for things from other people does nothing to change ugly attitudes and behaviors, but instead it adds to the ugliness. Walking in Holiness is the only way to change the ugly things. Holiness is a wet blanket on contentions, jealousy, angry outbursts, selfish motives, back-stabbing, gossiping, conceit, and riots. When we accept Jesus into our life, our Holiness begins as we embrace the Spirit of Christ. Through Jesus, we are given the Holy Spirit.

When Paul visited the Corinthians, he had no intention of arguing with them, engaging in contentions, nor being involved in angry debates of any kind. He always came in the humble, meek, and gentle Spirit of Christ. “…lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.” 2 Corinthians 12:21 What was Paul’s response to the contentious and immoral among the Corinthians? He mourned in the Spirit of Holiness against their sinfulness.

Today, the world and the churches deny God, discard the need for Jesus Christ, and trample on the Holy Spirit. They have embraced humanism rooted in the mark of the beast. As so easily seen, the world is filled with casual sex, LGBQT+ lifestyles, deviation of marriage as God intended, substance abuse, violence, etc. In the Holiness of God, through Jesus Christ, we mourn the direction this world has taken while we maintain humbleness, meekness, and gentleness.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11