Preaching the Gospel - Free of Charge (Men Mark Tumandan)

Preaching the Gospel - Free of Charge

As a minister of God, an evangelist, Apostle Paul had the right to be supported by the saints whom he preached the gospel. Paul's letter to the Corinthians brethren saying in "Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge? NKJV (2 Cor. 11:7).

Paul had certainly the right to be supported by the Corinthians brethren yet he said in his 1st letter to them as well that " If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel." NKJV (1 Cor. 9:11-14).

Paul's support was from Macedonians brethren as stated in 2 Corinthians 11:8-9 "I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you. 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."

To the saints in Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia (Acts 16:12), he once said that "Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account." (Philippians 4:15-17).

Those who preach the gospel should live through the gospel, those who minister the holy things, eat the things in the temple. (see 1 Cor. 9:13-14). Paul also was a tentmaker to support himself; thus a gospel preacher could also have a secular work at the same time preach the gospel. God's will, when I finished my study, then have a secular work, I could support myself as well by my own aside from the other churches/saints.

Filipino preachers have the right to be supported by the Filipino saints whom we preached the gospel. Sometimes, we do not use this right, Filipino preachers sometimes do not want to be burden to his fellow Filipino saints, thus Filipino Preachers ask support from the other churches in America. American saints shared so much part in the work in the Philippine in the Lord here.

An average Filipino here eat two times a day; one day = one eat and sometimes unfortunately, one day = no eat, especially the native like us. But if possible, I am encouraging those Filipino who could able to support gospel preachers to help even a little to partake in the afflictions of those who labor for the gospel's sake. But, Filipino saints are very generous as well, though they can't help financially but they are giving crops to the preachers as a mean to help him in his food. I have experienced being given by sisters in Christ corn crops and cassava crops though I did not ask, though I did not want to be burden to them.

Macedonians saints also were in deep poverty like us Filipino yet Brother Apostle Paul was very proud of them, "..great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.." (2 Cor. 8:2), they were also giver. They supported Apostle Paul and likewise they minister to the saints. Could we also follow what they did? Certainly we should follow them, as they follow Christ.

In the beginning, I have learned the gospel, no church I knew who supports dad $100 a month but the congregation where Brother Jim Mcdonald recommended dad until now that dad has another $100 a month together with me $100 as well. There are saints also in Facebook, whom love me so much that I could rely on sometimes sending me help. Partaking in my trials and difficulties. Though, in all of these, our family sometimes suffer one day, one eat. But it is a privilege given by God that there are saints like Brother Jim Mcdonald who we could rely on in as asking help. I am as well grateful to Brother Ron Halbrook for distributing Biblical Books, that I have learned so much. Though even a single dollar, I have not able to have from him, his Biblical Books made me a stronger Christian and matured one. Because of it, I count it as a support. Moral Support.

Such thing I am thankful to God always, night and day. Though I count it not as a right for me to be supported but it is a privilege being given.

--Men Mark Tumandan-