Footsteps #202

“⁷ Was I wrong when I humbled myself and honored you by preaching God’s Good News to you without expecting anything in return? ⁸ I “robbed” other churches by accepting their contributions so I could serve you at no cost. ⁹ And when I was with you and didn’t have enough to live on, I did not become a financial burden to anyone. For the brothers who came from Macedonia brought me all that I needed. I have never been a burden to you, and I never will be. ¹⁰ As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, no one in all of Greece^[b] will ever stop me from boasting about this. ¹¹ Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows that I do.” NLT (11:7-11)

From 11:7-11 we conclude that the false teachers spoke as though a man’s value can be judged by the size of his fee, and they charged plenty! Honoraria, plus expenses, plus book and C. D. sales, plus love offering, etc., etc. But Paul’s motive in not taking money from the Corinthians was absolutely godly. He loved the church, and he didn’t want to be a burden to them; he didn’t want anyone in that pagan city to have an excuse to question his financial integrity. In fact, Paul had a standing policy not to charge pioneer works but to ask established churches to support him (he calls that “robbing” them, almost humorously). And then the spiritual predators have the gall to turn around and use it all against him! Spiritual predators are dangerous because they masquerade as apostles of Christ. (read 11:12- 12:15). This is a very important truth to get through our heads. When you see satan portrayed in a red suit with a pitchfork and horns and a tail, that’s playing right into his hand. Such a caricature causes people to take him less than seriously. Satan knows that most people will never be tempted by a hideous creature who promises to destroy the things they prize most. But they can be tempted by power and influence and beauty and skill. They can be attracted to empty promises of bigger and better things. And that’s why you are much more likely to find satan in a clergy collar or dressed to the hilt as an attractive religious figure, driving expensive cars and living in mansions. His servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Spiritual predators don’t go around with the letters S. P. on their chests. They don’t advertise that they are into religion only for the financial benefits they can get out of it. They hide their heresies or make them look appealing by cloaking them in ambiguous language. Jesus spoke about spiritual predators in His Sermon on the Mount in Matt.7:15-23. But … Their end will be what their actions deserve. The implication is that God is going to deal with them, and it won’t be pleasant.