2 Corinthians 11:12
But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
This verse belongs to Paul's own account of his experience. In Corinth he preached the gospel without charge, supporting himself by tent-making and having his lack supplied by the brethren from Macedonia, keeping himself from being burdensome to them and determining to continue to keep himself so. He worked for his own support so as not to burden poor churches. He continued to refuse support from the churches. He did this to cut off occasion and give no cause for reproach to those who desire occasion, so that opponents who wanted an opportunity could not misrepresent his motives, discredit him, and weaken his gospel message. At the same time he labored faithfully in proclaiming the gospel with patience, signs, wonders, and mighty deeds, seeking the believers themselves and not their goods, and gladly spending and being spent for them.
The chapter teaches that judging by human standards leads to grave mistakes when people take up a work God has not appointed and has condemned, such as criticizing others and passing sentence on them. Paul's refusal to give his opponents an opening exposes the harm of faultfinding, evil suspicion, slander, false witness, hatred, and accusing fellow believers. Spiritual growth comes instead from examining and correcting one's own faults. The verse is to be studied and made to speak decidedly, warning a worker going to Chicago on no account to enter into controversy with any person, to obtain a deeper experience, not to seek to be original lest odd notions arise, and to keep the work moving in a dignified, elevated, and ennobling manner.