Did Paul mandate any of the churches under his ministry to give a certain amount? No.

Would Paul have charged for conferences if he were physically living today? No.

Would Paul have merchandised his ministry to generate income so he didn’t have to work? No.

Would Paul have used 45 minutes of a church service to get money out of people? No.

Would Paul have spent the time T.V. preachers spend soliciting funds if he were on television? No.

Would Paul have purchased an 8 million dollar jet so that he did not have to be around common people on a public airline? No.

In his own words, Paul says the following:

I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said It is more blessed to give than to receive. ~ Acts 20:33-35

Paul applied the words of Jesus, “it is more blessed to give than to receive,” to his physical labor from his occupation. He did not to apply it to coaxing people to give till it hurts in the offering plate.

Regarding the preaching of the gospel, Paul says:

What then is my reward? [Just this:] that, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge [to everyone], so as not to take advantage of my rights [as a preacher and apostle] in [preaching] the gospel. ~ 1 Corinthians 9:18 (AMP)

Paul declares that his reward was that of preaching the gospel without charging the people.

In 2 Corinthians Paul says, Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?

Paul was upset with how the Corinthians were allowing false apostles to take advantage of them and take from them financially. Since Paul did not charge for his ministry, the Corinthians neglected to minister to his needs by free will offerings and allowed false apostles to take advantage of them.

Paul then says “I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.”

Paul did not mean this literally, but figuratively, to get a point across because other churches had helped where the Corinthians were negligent.

Paul continues:

And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself. As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia. ~ 2 Corinthians 11:9-10

Notice that Paul says, he was “chargeable to no man” and that he would not be a burden to them. This is a reference to not being a financial burden. Paul then says, “no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.”

Paul graciously received the help of those who ministered to his needs, but Paul did not burden people with his ministry. He did not demand a certain percentage. He did not use gimmicks. He did not make vain promises, or twist the scriptures to provoke people to give.

He preached the gospel freely and God took care of him. Sometimes by his occupation as a tentmaker, and sometimes by the generosity of those who gave freely from the heart to minister to his needs.