When Trickery is Love

2 Corinthians 12:14-17,19: "Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less? Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent you? . . . . Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening."

If there was a church to which the Apostle Paul endeared himself, it was the church at Corinth. Paul had visited with the church several times, and most assuredly it was a momentous task of ministry for him. This church struggled with the wayward, immoral influences of the pagan city in which it was found, and Paul lovingly and repeatedly confronted them with these issues (see I Corinthians 5 & 6).

These Corinthians also had fallen prey to the prevailing opinion that great philosophers were ones who spoke with great oratory and would never stoop to working for income. Sages of the day would expect their community to remunerate them for their sagacity. Of course, Paul was just the opposite of this. He did not speak in the stylistic eloquence of the philosophers (1 Cor. 2:4); instead, he only desired to preach the simplicity of the precious gospel of the Lord (1 Cor. 9:16). Paul also did not exploit his position to gain materially from the people; instead, he worked among them to provide for his necessities (1 Cor. 9:15). Ironically, such behavior caused the Corinthian church to question his status as a philosopher (for no good philosopher would stoop to such measures). And as a result, they withheld their affection and appreciation from him (2 Cor. 6:12). They also would demand proof that in fact God was speaking through him (2 Cor. 13:3).

Paul would respond to them by saying that he did not want to be a burden to them by using up their possessions; instead, the apostle loved the people, and he was willing to give all that he had (including himself) for their benefit. Paul also mentioned that he was a crafty man who engaged in trickery. This was not designed to deceive the people; rather, Paul wanted to share the precious Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to his hearers. Whereas it appeared that Paul was attempting to defend himself, he used such opportunity as a platform to get God's truth to those who needed the Light of life for their strengthening against the enticements of the Evil One.

This is a wonderful depiction of a loving spiritual leader who endeared himself to those he loved. Though the Apostle Paul was not as impressive as the philosophers of the day, he made a tremendous impact on the people because he truly cared for the people and wanted to see them shine for the Lord. Paul was willing to give everything in order that God would be glorified through the church's surrender and obedience (1 Cor. 9:22). As we live our lives, may we have the same sense of purpose in being a conduit through which God might pour out His truth and love to those around us.