A prominent Nigerian cleric, Abel Damina, has stirred widespread debate after challenging the belief that financial giving to the church guarantees wealth or prosperity.
In a viral video, Damina argued that there is no biblical foundation for the claim that tithes or offerings automatically lead to financial success. He warned that such teachings can mislead Christians into expecting guaranteed material rewards for giving.
“There’s no scripture in the Bible that says when you give to God, you’ll be a rich person. Nobody prospers by giving. When you give, you lack,” he said.
He explained that giving naturally reduces one’s resources in the short term, adding that financial recovery depends more on personal effort than spiritual guarantees tied to donations.
To support his argument, Damina shared a story of a man who allegedly donated all three of his cars to his church, expecting divine financial breakthrough, but later struggled and even considered taking back one of the vehicles.
The cleric maintained that wealth is largely driven by education, hard work, and entrepreneurship rather than religious contributions alone. He dismissed the idea that tithing alone can make people billionaires, insisting that jobs and business activities are the real foundations of financial growth.
According to him, opportunities already exist in society, but individuals must acquire knowledge and skills to take advantage of them.
💬 Reactions from Nigerians
The cleric’s comments triggered mixed reactions online, with Nigerians sharply divided over his message.
@OluwafemiWrites:
“Finally someone said it clearly. Giving is good, but it’s not a business investment. Work matters too.”
@Chika_Ifeanyi:
“If this is true, then a lot of churches need to stop selling ‘seed faith’ like ATM strategy.”
@BlessingOla:
“I don’t agree. I’ve seen people give and receive unexpected blessings. Faith still works.”
@NaijaVoiceNG:
“This message is dangerous. It can make people stop giving entirely. Balance is important.”
@Ezekiel_Ade:
“Church is not investment. But let’s also not insult people’s testimonies.”
@Iam_SophiaK:
“Truth is, poverty won’t disappear because you tithe. Skills matter more.”
@ToluSpeaks:
“Whether you agree or not, this conversation needs to happen in Nigerian churches.”
@DamiTalks:
“If giving makes you rich automatically, then every church member should be a billionaire by now.”
@RealMercy_A:
“People are missing the point. Giving is obedience, not a financial contract.”
The debate continues to trend online as Nigerians weigh faith, prosperity teachings, and personal responsibility in financial growth.
Published by Ejoh Caleb
