For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves because of Jesus.2 Corinthians 4:5 HCSB

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One major way that the god of this age has blinded people is to get them to focus on themselves. The devil wants to get us to focus on ourselves and make us think that it is all on me or all about me. But it is not it is all about Jesus. Paul did not come to build Paul's ministry, but rather build the Kingdom of Jesus. It was Paul's mission to be a bondservant toward Jesus and His call which includes being a bondservant toward the people who would be or is part of His Church. 

For you yourselves know how you must imitate us: We were not irresponsible among you; we did not eat anyone’s food free of charge; instead, we labored and struggled, working night and day, so that we would not be a burden to any of you. It is not that we don’t have the right to support, but we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate us.
2 Thessalonians 3:7‭-‬9 HCSB
https://bible.com/bible/72/2th.3.7-9.HCSB

Paul made his money working during the day and speaking at night. In his early years, he helped make tents alongside other Christian tentmakers. For a period of two years, Paul taught as a college professor. 

After this, he left Athens and went to Corinth,  where he found a Jewish man named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul came to them, and being of the same occupation, stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.  He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and tried to persuade both Jews and Greeks.
Acts 18:1‭-‬4 HCSB
https://bible.com/bible/72/act.18.1-4.HCSB

But when some became hardened and would not believe, slandering the Way in front of the crowd, he withdrew from them and met separately with the disciples, conducting discussions every day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.  And this went on for two years, so that all the inhabitants of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the message about the Lord.
Acts 19:9‭-‬10 HCSB
https://bible.com/bible/72/act.19.9-10.HCSB

On the first day of the week, we assembled to break bread. Paul spoke to them, and since he was about to depart the next day, he extended his message until midnight. There were many lamps in the room upstairs where we were assembled, and a young man named Eutychus was sitting on a window sill and sank into a deep sleep as Paul kept on speaking. When he was overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was picked up dead. But Paul went down, fell on him, embraced him, and said, “Don’t be alarmed, for his life is in him! ”  After going upstairs, breaking the bread, and eating, Paul conversed a considerable time until dawn. Then he left. They brought the boy home alive and were greatly comforted.
Acts 20:7‭-‬12 HCSB
https://bible.com/bible/72/act.20.7-12.HCSB

Paul was willing to do what was required to see people come to the full realization of Jesus, not just a saving grace, but a trained disciple who could teach others also.  What about you and me, are we willing to learn from others how to be the best disciple of Jesus? Are we willing to become the best Jesus follower He wants us to be? Are we willing to give up some of our time and resources to teach others to be the best disciple of Jesus they can be?

You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 2:1‭-‬3 HCSB
https://bible.com/bible/72/2ti.2.1-3.HCSB

You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
2 Timothy 2:1‭-‬2 HCSB
https://bible.com/bible/72/2ti.2.1-2.HCSB

In the same way, when you have done all that you were commanded, you should say, ‘We are good-for-nothing slaves; we’ve only done our duty.”
Luke 17:10 HCSB
https://bible.com/bible/72/luk.17.10.HCSB

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