福音是免费的！
哥林多后书十一章7至15节
7我因为白白传神的福音给你们，就自居卑微，叫你们高升，这算是我犯罪么？
8我亏负了别的教会，向他们取了工价来给你们效力。
9我在你们那里缺乏的时候，并没有累着你们一个人；因我所缺乏的，那从马其顿来的弟兄们都补足了。我向来凡事谨守，后来也必谨守，总不至于累着你们。
10既有基督的诚实在我里面，就无人能在亚该亚一带地方阻挡我这自夸。
11为甚么呢？是因我不爱你们么？这有神知道。
12我现在所做的，后来还要做，为要断绝那些寻机会人的机会，使他们在所夸的事上也不过与我们一样。
13那等人是假使徒，行事诡诈，装作基督使徒的模样。
14这也不足为怪，因为连撒但也装作光明的天使。
15所以他的差役，若装作仁义的差役，也不算希奇。他们的结局必然照着他们的行为。
信息分享
保罗驳斥他们说：「你们误信了谗言。我没有要求你们给予经济上的支持，乃因我想你们明白，你们无须付出任何金钱便可得到福音。当我在哥林多生活的时候，我一面织帐棚赚取生计，一面向你们传福音。而且，其他一些教会也赠送物品来支持我的生活。因此，我可以自力更生，不需要你们负担我的生活。」
保罗的原则是，不向传福音的对象索取任何东西。他希望他们清楚知道，福音是神白白赐给他们的恩典，是不可以用金钱来购买的。保罗绝不想人贬低福音的价值。
保罗这个理念，对我们今天有何启迪呢？我们是否像保罗一样，小心处理金钱的问题？我们的教会，在呼吁人捐助支持的时候，是否很小心处理，避免使人误解？我们是否坚持应该由信徒奉献，去支持教会的工作，而不该向非信徒募捐？我们的教会有否确保自己精明而诚实地运用信徒奉献的金钱？
我们必须小心处理金钱的事，不招致别人的指责和诟病；更要向教外人见证我们的廉洁。
这是其中一个方法，向世人说明基督的福音是白白赐给每一个人的。任何人都可以不费分毫，获得基督的救恩。
你是否已接受了这个白白的、宝贵的救恩呢？
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?