These are some thoughts on how I think we should treat and respond to the Gospel:
If the Gospel were a beverage, like Dr. Pepper 'Ten' shall we say, it would affect us.
First we would observe it, look at it, open it, perhaps smell it, and then taste and ingest it. Whether we like it or not, that drink is going to affect us and we will respond to it in some way or another. You might drink it just think of it as some type of hydrating nourishment with a sweet flavor that gave us a little bit of energy. You might think it tasted aweful and gave you a stomach ache. You might even dislike it so much as to dissuade your friends or even strangers from drinking it because it is so aweful. Or you might think that it is the best think you have ever had to drink and tell everyone about it. You might call your friends and family, tell your classmates and even strangers how good it is. You could be such a proponent of Dr. Pepper 'Ten' that you buy a bunch just to give it away so that others can know just how delectable this beverage is and enjoy it as you have. You would not be ashamed of how much you like Dr. Pepper Ten; you wouldn't feel like you are stepping on anyone's toes by exposing the avid Pepsi Max fan to its goodness, nor would you feel awkward about sharing it with your friends who are opposed to soda. Another possibility is that you might buy up as much Dr. Pepper 'Ten' as you can and hoard it all for yourself because of how much you like it, wanting to keep it a secret just for yourself to enjoy. More than likely it will not be the last one unless there is a great shortage of Dr. Pepper 'Ten' in the world.
Now, this is an apt comparison to Jesus, who claims to have living water.
"Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, “Give me a drink”, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.’" - John 4:10
We get to know the gift of God, his bountiful and glorious Kingdom, and we get to know who asked the the Samaritan woman for a drink, Jesus the Messiah. We get to ask him for this living water.
Later John writes,
"37 On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me,38and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, “Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.” ’ 39Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified." - John 7:37-39
There is an infinite amount of this living water. There is no reason to hoard it. You never could accumulate all of it in a stockpile for a rainy day because it is infinite and eternal.
"I just drank Dr. Pepper 10 and it is incredible! Everyone should try Dr. Pepper 10, it is THAT good!" If Jesus is infinitely better than Dr. Pepper 10 (which he is, trust me), then Jesus should create just as much enthusiasm and desire to share. I will eventually get tired of drinking Dr. Pepper 10 everyday and it will affect me less, but since Jesus saves me everyday, I should never get tired of drinking the Living Water and having it affect me and bring me to proclaiming his goodness everyday. I fail at this constantly, but wish I didn't. The Gospel is radical. It is saving. It is nourishing. It is essential.
The good news of the Kingdom of God, of life, and life abundant, of eternal rest, is not as materialistic as Dr. Pepper Ten. It is hard to explain to someone because I can not hand them a can of it and let them drink it, but it is readily available. And that makes it foolish for us to not drink it every day, experience it, live it, and tell people about its goodness.
