QT 15/12/2024 Sun. Church Camp Day 03. Love without Money? 没有用到金钱的爱？

QT 15/12/2024 Sun. Church Camp Day 03. Love without Money?

"That working husband is very good in many things, except that he doesn't give his family any money at all. Never. Full stop." Or "That working wife is very good in many things, except that she doesn't give her family any money at all. Never. Full stop."

Many ladies would conclude that such a guy is not worth considering at all to date, to begin with. Ditto for guys observing gals. Others might find creative ways to normalise the situation, even finding acceptable exceptions to make this situation faultless.

But we are not talking about the exceptions or special circumstances where a husband is unable to provide for the family—through injury or accidents, or by a wife for that matter. The illustrations can prompt us to reconsider how far unity in Christ goes if believers have the mindset that we can be united with one another serving together, as long as "you don't touch my money at all".

But Paul would have none of that in his shepherding of the churches in Macedonia, Rome, Spain or Jerusalem.

Romans 15:22–29 Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome
[22] This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. [23] But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, [24] I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. [25] At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. [26] For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. [27] For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. [28] When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you. [29] I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. (ESV)

Paul had already explained the interdependece of the Jews and Gentiles in the mysterious plan of God in history:

Romans 11:18–19 [18] do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. [19] Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” (ESV)

Since the gospel came to the Gentiles after the Jews had (by their own will and decision) rejected Jesus and nailed Him to the cross, the Gentiles must not ignore the plight of Jewish believers, who now faced famine in Jerusalem during Paul's time. Paul was insistent that the theology he expounded (understanding about God and how He worked in the world) must blend theory and practice.

(1) The Gentiles "owe it to" the Jews (v. 27a);
(2) The Gentiles must now expend money and resources to "be of service" to the Jews in "material blessings" (v. 27b);
(3) The believers in Rome also had a duty to fund future gospel work in Spain, where Paul planned to go (v. 24, 28).

True unity comes when the money in your pocket is no longer yours alone—it is also for the services of the brothers and sisters that you see week after week. Loving in ways that involve  money is not only for rich Christians, because God's way of calculating is by percentages and ratios of earning versus giving (10%, 20%...), not only in terms of absolute quantity or sums ($100, $1,000, $10,000 ...).

Many do give, eventually, due to surrendering to threats, pressure or fear of retribution if one does not give. But the better attitude is one which seeks out opportunities to give out of thankfulness, rather than finding creative ways to siam (avoid). Are you loving in such a way that involves giving money that belonged to God anyway in the first place?

QT 15/12/2024 星期日. Church Camp Day 03. 没有用到金钱的爱？

“那个工作的丈夫在很多方面都很优秀，唯独不给家里一分钱。从来没有。永远不给。” 或者 “那个工作的妻子在很多事情上都很好，除了她不给家里一分钱。从来没有。永远不给。”

很多女士都会得出这样的结论：这样的男人根本不值得考虑交往。观察女生的男生也是如此。其他人可能会想出一些有创意的办法来使这种情况正常化，甚至找到一些可以接受的例外情况，使这种情况变得无可挑剔。

但我们讨论的并不是丈夫因受伤或意外而无法养家，或者妻子的类似特殊情况。如果信徒抱着只要 “你不碰我的钱”，我们就可以彼此合一、共同事奉的心态，那么这些例子就会促使我们重新考虑在基督里的合一能走多远，真正的合一到那里去。

但保罗在牧养马其顿、罗马、西班牙或耶路撒冷的教会时，却没有这样的想法。

罗马书 15:22-29 保罗访问罗马的计划
22 我因多次被拦阻，总不得到你们那里去。23 但如今在这里再没有可传的地方，而且这好几年，我切心想望到士班雅去的时候，可以到你们那里。24 盼望从你们那里经过，得见你们，先与你们彼此交往，心里稍微满足，然后蒙你们送行。25 但现在我往耶路撒冷去，供给圣徒。 26 因为马其顿，和亚该亚人乐意凑出捐项，给耶路撒冷圣徒中的穷人。27 这固然是他们乐意的。其实也算是所欠的债。因外邦人，既然在他们属灵的好处上有分，就当把养身之物供给他们。28 等我办完了这事，把这善果向他们交付明白，我就要路过你们那里，往士班雅去。29 我也晓得去的时候，必带着基督丰盛的恩典而去。

保罗已经解释了犹太人和外邦人在上帝奥秘的历史计划中的相互依存关系： 罗马书 11:18-19 [18] 你就不可向旧枝子夸口，若是夸口，当知道不是你托着根，乃是根托着你。[19] 你若说，那枝子被折下来，是特为叫我接上。

既然福音是在犹太人（出于自己的意愿和决定）拒绝耶稣并将其钉在十字架上之后传给外邦人的，那么外邦人就不能忽视犹太信徒的困境，在保罗的时代，他们在耶路撒冷面临着饥荒。保罗坚持认为，他所阐释的神学（对上帝及其如何在世界上作工的理解）必须将理论与实践相结合。

(1）外邦人 “亏欠 ”犹太人（第 27a 节）；
(2）外邦人现在必须花费金钱和资源在 “养身之物”上为犹太人有贡献（第 27b 节）；
(3) 罗马的信徒也有责任资助保罗计划前往的西班牙未来的福音工作（第24、28节）。

当你口袋里的钱不再只是属于你一个人的——它若也是为服务周围的弟兄姐妹而存在，真正的合一就到来了。有付上金钱的爱不仅仅是富有的基督徒的事，因为神的计算方式是以收入与奉献的百分比和比例（10%、20%...）来计算的，而不仅仅是绝对的数量或金额（$100、$1,000、$10,000...）。

或许许多人最终会给予，原因是屈服于威胁、压力或害怕不给予会遭到报应。但更好的态度是，出于感恩之心寻找给予的机会，而不是想方设法地逃避（闪开）。你是否以这样一种方式去爱，即把本来就属于上帝的钱财奉献出来？