2 Corinthians 12:16

2 Corinthians 12:16 says, But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.  Paul said that they might somehow claim that he had cleverly made it appear that he did not receive any financial support from them while doing so through cleverness, or guile.  I believe he was saying they might claim this because he sent others to collect claiming it was for themselves or some other purpose and then giving it to Paul.  Verse seventeen Paul adds, Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?  Paul wanted to end this claim quickly.  He asked if he had received anything from the church by anyone he had sent to them.  If Paul had so much trouble defending his ministry, even having to defend himself because the church wasn't, then we should not be surprised if we have what we do for Christ questioned.  Once more, I do not believe that Paul was saying that the church should not support a minister financially, but that more importantly they should support him spiritually.  Paying a minister should never be seen as giving a church control of what he does or says.  Verse eighteen continues, I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?  Paul asked if Titus and the one sent with him asked for financial support from the church.  This would have been a clever way for Paul to benefit, allowing them to collect and then giving some or all to Paul.  Paul then said they walked in the same spirit and steps.  In other words, they like Paul paid their own way.  They walked by the leadership of the Holy Spirit following the footsteps of Jesus, as should we.  Verse nineteen states, Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.  Paul said he wasn't speaking to excuse himself, since he was following God's will and was doing what he did to edify them.  Just as Paul, if we see a problem in the church, we need to address it, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit and to edify the church.  If we do so, we need never apologize, even if people speak badly about us.  Verse twenty adds, For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:  Paul told them that he was writing to clear up any misunderstandings between them.  He wanted to eliminate all the negative things that were happening in the church.  Paul wanted them to be true to their faith in Christ, in words and actions.  Verse twenty-one continues, And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.  Paul did not want to have to speak out against sinful actions in the church at Corinth when he came.  He wanted the believers in the church there to correct their own problems.  I believe that Paul saying that God would humble him referred to the fact that he had spoken well of the church at Corinth, and they were not living up to the faith he proclaimed of them.  When we see problems in the church, we need to act quickly to correct them under God's leadership.