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	<title>Comments on: A Look at Personal Finance Within the Body of Christ</title>
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	<link>http://watchmymoneymaker.com/2007/12/13/a-look-at-personal-finance-within-the-body-of-christ/</link>
	<description>Financial Voyeurism - Learn as I learn - we're all in this together</description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:59:06 +0000</pubDate>
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		<title>By: Randy Peterman</title>
		<link>http://watchmymoneymaker.com/2007/12/13/a-look-at-personal-finance-within-the-body-of-christ/#comment-2133</link>
		<dc:creator>Randy Peterman</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 05 May 2008 05:51:14 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description>This topic is an important one to consider.  It is important to understand that 'the law of Christ' is about communion in the relationship and being motivated by Grace.  The term we use at our body is 'Logical Imperatives' which is to say: because of God's great love and outpouring in our lives we should logically be doing the things outlined in the passages that are imperatives.

As the Holy Spirit moves in our lives during the daily communion of fellowship (AKA abiding in Christ or walking in the Spirit), He will direct us to do various things.  However, the concept of agency comes into play with a few stipulations:
1) Provisions
2) Seasons
If you look more deeply at Acts 2:45 and study some of the language you will see that the properties and possessions were excess.  The word possessions in the Greek implies wealth, which is slightly less obvious in the English.  God had provided the excess for just such a use.  The other side is that sometimes we're in the season or time in our life where we're the recipient.  Sometimes that changes from one day to the next, and sometimes that changes over years.  If you look at Ephesians 2:10 you'll see that the opportunities to do good works are prepared before hand, and if you're abiding, you'll do those things.  If you're not abiding, you're justified and so your ledger account shows Christ's righteousness in your stead there.  The body grows due to the needs and fulfillment of those needs - needs are good and having the fulfillment of the need is good - but its orchestrated by God.  Don't look to fill every need, but don't be embarrassed by your needs because they're often &lt;em&gt;from God for edification of the body.&lt;/em&gt;

In short you shouldn't have to beat yourself up for these things and instead focus on the daily relationship with our bride-greem.  You can read a bit more about the concept of stewardship and agency in the PDF I created &lt;a href="http://bible.randypeterman.com/foundations/?p=11" rel="nofollow"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt; if you're interested.  It's part of a greater study on the Body and the Believer [which is currently going on as of the this writing, so you'll find there are only 5 or so handouts in that series right now].</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This topic is an important one to consider.  It is important to understand that &#8216;the law of Christ&#8217; is about communion in the relationship and being motivated by Grace.  The term we use at our body is &#8216;Logical Imperatives&#8217; which is to say: because of God&#8217;s great love and outpouring in our lives we should logically be doing the things outlined in the passages that are imperatives.</p>
<p>As the Holy Spirit moves in our lives during the daily communion of fellowship (AKA abiding in Christ or walking in the Spirit), He will direct us to do various things.  However, the concept of agency comes into play with a few stipulations:<br />
1) Provisions<br />
2) Seasons<br />
If you look more deeply at Acts 2:45 and study some of the language you will see that the properties and possessions were excess.  The word possessions in the Greek implies wealth, which is slightly less obvious in the English.  God had provided the excess for just such a use.  The other side is that sometimes we&#8217;re in the season or time in our life where we&#8217;re the recipient.  Sometimes that changes from one day to the next, and sometimes that changes over years.  If you look at Ephesians 2:10 you&#8217;ll see that the opportunities to do good works are prepared before hand, and if you&#8217;re abiding, you&#8217;ll do those things.  If you&#8217;re not abiding, you&#8217;re justified and so your ledger account shows Christ&#8217;s righteousness in your stead there.  The body grows due to the needs and fulfillment of those needs - needs are good and having the fulfillment of the need is good - but its orchestrated by God.  Don&#8217;t look to fill every need, but don&#8217;t be embarrassed by your needs because they&#8217;re often <em>from God for edification of the body.</em></p>
<p>In short you shouldn&#8217;t have to beat yourself up for these things and instead focus on the daily relationship with our bride-greem.  You can read a bit more about the concept of stewardship and agency in the PDF I created <a href="http://bible.randypeterman.com/foundations/?p=11" rel="nofollow">here</a> if you&#8217;re interested.  It&#8217;s part of a greater study on the Body and the Believer [which is currently going on as of the this writing, so you'll find there are only 5 or so handouts in that series right now].</p>
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		<title>By: GG</title>
		<link>http://watchmymoneymaker.com/2007/12/13/a-look-at-personal-finance-within-the-body-of-christ/#comment-2126</link>
		<dc:creator>GG</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 05 May 2008 01:58:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://watchmymoneymaker.com/2007/12/13/a-look-at-personal-finance-within-the-body-of-christ/#comment-2126</guid>
		<description>Thanks for pointing me towards this post, Randy. I agree with everything you're saying--because basically you're saying our money (as everything else in our lives) should be used to obey the two greatest commandments: loving God and loving others.

Saying that I agree with that is easy because it's pretty black and white in my mind: God said it, I believe it.

But what's trickier, at least in my mind, is understanding how this works in day-to-day life. You have a friend who has a need--how much/often do you help them? Do you do it anonymously or not?  How many of your friends can/should you do this for and how often? Saying that there are needs within the body, and that the body should meet them, is true and wise. Yet I kind of feel like that gives me more questions.

Like with other day-to-day matters, I look at the doctrinal principles: God commands us to love others. God commands us to give generously (which, let's be honest, is very subjective). So I want to fulfill that as best I know how, while also fulfilling other commands: being a good steward of my money to plan for the future, being financially responsible to pay for my needs and not burden someone else, etc. And then I come up with whatever amount I can/should give, as best I know how.

What do you think? These thoughts are a little random, I guess.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Thanks for pointing me towards this post, Randy. I agree with everything you&#8217;re saying&#8211;because basically you&#8217;re saying our money (as everything else in our lives) should be used to obey the two greatest commandments: loving God and loving others.</p>
<p>Saying that I agree with that is easy because it&#8217;s pretty black and white in my mind: God said it, I believe it.</p>
<p>But what&#8217;s trickier, at least in my mind, is understanding how this works in day-to-day life. You have a friend who has a need&#8211;how much/often do you help them? Do you do it anonymously or not?  How many of your friends can/should you do this for and how often? Saying that there are needs within the body, and that the body should meet them, is true and wise. Yet I kind of feel like that gives me more questions.</p>
<p>Like with other day-to-day matters, I look at the doctrinal principles: God commands us to love others. God commands us to give generously (which, let&#8217;s be honest, is very subjective). So I want to fulfill that as best I know how, while also fulfilling other commands: being a good steward of my money to plan for the future, being financially responsible to pay for my needs and not burden someone else, etc. And then I come up with whatever amount I can/should give, as best I know how.</p>
<p>What do you think? These thoughts are a little random, I guess.</p>
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		<title>By: Watch My Money Maker &#187; Blog Archive &#187; First Timothy Three Three</title>
		<link>http://watchmymoneymaker.com/2007/12/13/a-look-at-personal-finance-within-the-body-of-christ/#comment-659</link>
		<dc:creator>Watch My Money Maker &#187; Blog Archive &#187; First Timothy Three Three</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 06 Jan 2008 15:06:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://watchmymoneymaker.com/2007/12/13/a-look-at-personal-finance-within-the-body-of-christ/#comment-659</guid>
		<description>[...] of small congregations to be in debt.  This is simply not a good thing for a long list of reasons (you can read a few of them here) but part of it is that financial strains can sometimes weaken the will and cause leaders to [...]</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>[...] of small congregations to be in debt.  This is simply not a good thing for a long list of reasons (you can read a few of them here) but part of it is that financial strains can sometimes weaken the will and cause leaders to [...]</p>
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		<title>By: Steve Spinks</title>
		<link>http://watchmymoneymaker.com/2007/12/13/a-look-at-personal-finance-within-the-body-of-christ/#comment-517</link>
		<dc:creator>Steve Spinks</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:35:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://watchmymoneymaker.com/2007/12/13/a-look-at-personal-finance-within-the-body-of-christ/#comment-517</guid>
		<description>[...] over at Watch My Money-Maker has a great post on church unity and provision for the body. This will whet your appetite:  An attitude of unity of body is similar to a unity of [...]</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>[...] over at Watch My Money-Maker has a great post on church unity and provision for the body. This will whet your appetite:  An attitude of unity of body is similar to a unity of [...]</p>
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