abusing authority

Verse 18 gives us the answer as to why Paul willingly gave up his right to receive money from the church to support him, that he might 'present the gospel of Christ without charge' and that he might not 'abuse authority in the gospel'.

He would be abusing his authority as an Apostle if he demanded financial support from the church. As a Christian worker any support we get should not be our 'right' but a 'privilege'. If he had demanded support from the Corinthian church he would not have been moving in true love (self sacrificial love) and would have stumbled many in the church.