A Debt of Love

During the course of his second missionary journey, Paul came to Corinth and founded the church in that city. While there, he labored in the craft of tentmaking so that he would be free to preach the gospel without relying on the people for support. In doing this, he was humbling himself in regard to two principles. The Greeks themselves felt that a teacher’s worth was in proportion to the reward that he received for his services. Jesus taught that the workman is worthy of his hire. When a speaker refused remuneration or did not demand it, the suspicion was that he was a false teacher. But in the face of this, Paul became a common laborer to avoid the appearance of being driven by mercenary motives. Paul felt that he was a debtor to others because of what God had done for him. Moreover, he felt that stewardship had been committed to him. Such humility is becoming God’s children.

Taken from The Devotional Daily Bible