Jesus Famous With Nate Holdridge

  Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. (2 Corinthians 12:14, ESV) Modern parents can learn much about their role by learning how the apostles led the early church. They considered their role a parental one, for they were spiritual fathers caring for a new generation of baby Christians, raising them to full maturity. Paul felt that fatherly role toward the church in Corinth. The feeling he had for the Roman church was his feeling for all the churches—“I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you” (Romans 1:11). In the verse before us, Paul told the Corinthian church he was ready to visit them for a “third time.” On that trip, his longing was not to be a burden to them. He was not seeking what they had, but them. His reason for this giving (rather than taking) attitude? “For children are not obligated t