Anyone who serves the Lord must not be difficult to get along with. Instead, they must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and not hold anything against anybody.
If others have the right to receive support from you, don’t we have an even greater right? But we haven’t used that right. No, we’re prepared to make any sacrifice we have to, rather than let anything get in the way of the good news of Christ.
But as for you, stay in control of yourself no matter what happens. Don’t give up when things become difficult. Work to spread the good news. Fulfill all the responsibilities of your work.
Blessed is the person who keeps going when times are difficult. After they’ve made it through these times, they’ll receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to give to those who love him.
You know that I’ve been treated badly and suffered greatly. You know what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—how badly I was treated there. But the Lord saved me from all my troubles.