福音是免費的！
哥林多後書十一章7至15節
7我因為白白傳神的福音給你們，就自居卑微，叫你們高升，這算是我犯罪麼？
8我虧負了別的教會，向他們取了工價來給你們效力。
9我在你們那裡缺乏的時候，並沒有累著你們一個人；因我所缺乏的，那從馬其頓來的弟兄們都補足了。我向來凡事謹守，後來也必謹守，總不至於累著你們。
10既有基督的誠實在我裡面，就無人能在亞該亞一帶地方阻擋我這自誇。
11為甚麼呢？是因我不愛你們麼？這有神知道。
12我現在所做的，後來還要做，為要斷絕那些尋機會人的機會，使他們在所誇的事上也不過與我們一樣。
13那等人是假使徒，行事詭詐，裝作基督使徒的模樣。
14這也不足為怪，因為連撒但也裝作光明的天使。
15所以他的差役，若裝作仁義的差役，也不算希奇。他們的結局必然照著他們的行為。
信息分享
保羅駁斥他們說：「你們誤信了讒言。我沒有要求你們給予經濟上的支持，乃因我想你們明白，你們無須付出任何金錢便可得到福音。當我在哥林多生活的時候，我一面織帳棚賺取生計，一面向你們傳福音。而且，其他一些教會也贈送物品來支持我的生活。因此，我可以自力更生，不需要你們負擔我的生活。」
保羅的原則是，不向傳福音的對象索取任何東西。他希望他們清楚知道，福音是神白白賜給他們的恩典，是不可以用金錢來購買的。保羅絕不想人貶低福音的價值。
保羅這個理念，對我們今天有何啟迪呢？我們是否像保羅一樣，小心處理金錢的問題？我們的教會，在呼籲人捐助支持的時候，是否很小心處理，避免使人誤解？我們是否堅持應該由信徒奉獻，去支持教會的工作，而不該向非信徒募捐？我們的教會有否確保自己精明而誠實地運用信徒奉獻的金錢？
我們必須小心處理金錢的事，不招致別人的指責和詬病；更要向教外人見證我們的廉潔。
這是其中一個方法，向世人說明基督的福音是白白賜給每一個人的。任何人都可以不費分毫，獲得基督的救恩。
你是否已接受了這個白白的、寶貴的救恩呢？
THE GOSPEL IS FREE!
2 Corinthians 11:7-15
7 Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?
8 I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you.
9 And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself.
10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows!
12 But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast.
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
Message
Paul said in return, 'You've got it all wrong. I did not ask for nor accept your money because I wanted to show you that the Gospel is free of charge. While I was in Corinth, I was a worker-pastor. I worked part-time making tents. Some of the other churches also sent me support gifts. That was how I lived so I would not be a burden to you.'
Paul's principle was this - he would not take anything from those to whom he preached the Gospel the first time. He wanted to be sure that they knew the Gospel was free. It was not for sale. Paul had a high view of the Gospel.
What does this mean to us today? Are we as careful in asking for money as Paul was? Is our church careful whom it asks support from? Is it careful in observing that God's work should be supported by God's people? Does our church make sure its money is handled wisely and honestly?
Let's make sure that no one can point a finger at us in any of these matters where we are dealing with the Lord's money. Let's see that our testimony to the outside world remains clean.
This is one way we can tell the world that the Gospel of Christ is free. It is for all who will accept the free gift of salvation in Christ without money or price.
Have you accepted this wonderful gift yourself?