Misquoted Scripture

1 Timothy 6:10, "For the love of money is a root to all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

I saw this picture on someone's Facebook page and knew I had to write a blog post about it. This is one of THE MOST misquoted Scriptures!

Timothy clearly says, The LOVE of money. Not money itself. 

I work at a church. I have been there for 2 years. From 2007-2010 I worked at a different church. The church needs money to run. There are bills to pay. 

Back during Jesus' times, and even before He was born, the Rabbi's and people who ran the churches were paid. There is a thing called the Terumah tithe. This was paid directly to the leader of the church, then they tithed to the church.

Does God need your money? NOPE!

He has the cattle on a thousand hills. 

But the church needs money to run. In the book of Acts in the Bible, Paul tells how the first church did things. These were the people who saw Jesus face to face, watched Him die, and then saw Him alive again. They pulled their money together. They sold property, and shared. They ate together and basically had church every single day. 

The writer of Hebrews then tells us in Chapter 10, verse 25, "Do not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another - and all the more as you see the day approaching."

Church attendance is important. We need to gather with other believers to worship God corporately, as well as to fellowship with each other. Sunday, our Youth Pastor talked about how some people are actually closer to their church family than their blood family. He said, "If we are doing it right, your church family has the chance to be closer to you than your blood family because the Spirit is thicker than blood."

Tithing is giving back to God what is God's in the first place. He gave you your talents, skills, and abilities. He provided the job you work at. So, just like the people of the Bible, giving back a tenth to Him is you honoring all He's given you.

I am not perfect in this area. But I understand it. I know the truths, and I know that what I have is His. I also understand the behind the scenes stuff at a church. 

Churches have light bills too, ya know.

Be careful when you see stuff like the picture posted above. Read the Scripture yourself and see if it matches. Because the LOVE of money is root of all kinds of evil. NOT money itself.

Shine some light when you see or hear a Scripture quoted wrong. You will probably make a difference for someone.

God bless you today and always.