I agree wholeheartedly with all of you. There are many people that use the word of God as a way to gain something for themselves; however, we have to look at this from another perspective. The book of Malachi 3:8-12 says
Quote:
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. 12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
There has to be some sort of hope in the Christian faith. How can we ask people in poverty to believe that their lives will change when we do not allow them to hope for more than they have. Have you ever asked yourselves if these people believe that taking care of their pastor is a responsibility of the congregation and that the Lord will take care of the rest? Don't down someone for believing in the impossible or in something that doesn't always sit right with you. They did not believe in Jesus either; He did miracles right in front of them. They crucified the Messiah, because he did not come in the way that they thought that he should.
The issue is that we cannot save every person from being taken advantage of, but we can teach our children and the adults in their lives ways to break the curse of poverty-belief in more to come-
Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen. Let that be your focus and not on where they spend their money. I would not want someone to scrutinize over where my money goes and they may see me as successful.