2 Corinthians 12:14-18

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.

(v14, NIV)

There are a few reasons for why Paul doesn't want to burden those at the Corinthian church. One reason is because he isn't really interested in their money or possessions. Instead, he is simply interested in them. He shows this by his loving words of encouragement and instruction. He also shows his desire for them to be following Jesus instead of being deceived by false apostles. He feels like a father to them in the same way that parents save up for their children. In using this idea he is trying to explain to him his reasoning for not wanting to burden them.

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? I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not act in the same spirit and follow the same course?

(v15-18, NIV)

Keeping in mind the parent analogy, Paul wishes to spend on his children. He is willing to spend everything he has on them. Not only his possessions, but Paul is willing to expend himself for them. Paul loves them and that is why he is doing and willing to do these things. However, it seems as though as Paul loves them more, they love him less. They show this by their attacks on him and turning away from Jesus to false apostles. In the same way, God loves us very much and often shows his loves to us. However, many times we do not recognize the ways in which God is lovingly reaching out to us. There are some people who no matter how much God loves them, they do not love God back.