Pastor Idowu Iluyomade, former pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God’s City of David parish, has remarked that conducting a ministry requires a significant amount of capital, which is why God requested for tithes to cover the requirements of His home.
On Sunday, during the church’s second service at Civic Centre, Iluyomade stated, “Ministry requires money—that’s why God instructed we should bring tithes to meet the requirements of His house. Regarding offerings, God stated that everyone should give in proportion to how He has blessed them. Naturally, the wealthy should contribute more than those who have less. We must give proportionately to our prosperity.”
The cleric also exhorted Christians to live holy and righteous lives, cautioning against ignoring these fundamental parts of faith.
He, however, disclose that his newly created ministry, The Family Fellowship, had acquired a permanent property at Eko Atlantic, revealing that the land was provided by a church member.
He used the occasion to encourage Christians to embrace the act of giving, both to their fellow humans and to support God’s work.
According to him, many believers struggle with the principle of giving, which he described as a sacrificial act that brings God’s blessings.
In his sermon, titled “Giving,” Pastor Iluyomade emphasized the importance of understanding biblical principles on offerings and tithes.
He stated, “As Christians, you must exercise extreme caution because there are numerous beliefs circulating nowadays. I want us to reason together because there have been numerous teachings on giving. If you are not cautious, you will miss it in this area, and that is the gospel truth.”
He went on to say, “Your giving begins with your offering.” God owns the tithe, which is 10% of your income. And God understands mathematics. Many people avoid reading Malachi 3, where God laments about people defrauding him of tithes and sacrifices.
“We need to repent.” If God names us robbers, we must question ourselves: Will any robber enter heaven? And how much is this ten percent that God is asking for? If I were God, maybe I would ask for more, but He only asks for 10 per cent to bless the remaining. Let’s reflects on that.”
Iluyomade also warned worshippers not to neglect their tithes. However, he emphasized the equal necessity of assisting the poor and needy, especially during difficult times.
During the ceremony, two church members donated ₦4 million to Bethesda Home & School for the Blind, demonstrating the spirit of giving emphasized by Pastor Iluyomade’s sermon.