"Glad tidings" is an understatement, probably because the English language lacks the depth of the original Greek. God had granted the dying Human Race a Savior, so that they could live forever. If anything should make us "glad," it's the wonderful news that death need not swallow us and drag us to Hell. Whosoever will may come. That means you and me—atheist, agnostic, religious person, black, white, rich or poor. "Whoever" repents and trusts in Jesus finds everlasting life. Glad indeed!
Few people know that Jesus had a donor-based ministry. It costs money to feed and lodge 13 itinerant preachers. Many people knew that, and gladly supported the cause. But as with a number of contemporary ministries, there was corruption within. The trusted treasurer turned out to be a liar and a thief (see John 12:4-6). He was secretly stealing money from the ministry. Jesus knew what he was up to and warned him, but he didn't listen and ended up with just enough rope to hang himself. As with most money-hungry folks, he wasn't even happy with what he was stealing, and wanted more silver.
Many today are like Judas the hypocrite. They point the finger and complain about others and what they do with their money, and they will also be given enough rope to hang themselves. Check out Romans 2 to see the end result of those who are accusatory, and yet do the same things.
Despite the problem of corruption in ministries, it is biblically legitimate to be supported by donors and sales:
"Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock? . . . Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel" (1 Corinthians 9:7, 14).
