Bishop Adeoye added that the wealth possessed by rich people was not meant for their pleasures alone but to help others as well.
The Presiding Bishop of Sufficient Grace and Truth International Ministries, Bishop Seun Adeoye has sent a message to rich Nigerians amidst biting economic hardship and suffering.
He begged rich Nigerians to share their wealth with the poor.
Bishop Adeoye added that the wealth possessed by rich people was not meant for their pleasures alone but to help others as well.
The cleric also urged wealthy Nigerian pastors to focus on helping the downtrodden instead of investing in self-serving multi-billion-naira projects with little or no impact on people’s lives.
In a statement issued on Monday in Okinni, Osun State, and titled “Let Us Be That Good Samaritan,” Bishop Adeoye noted that most Nigerian rich pastors have abandoned the true gospel of Christ in pursuit of worldly fame.
“It is sad to realize that out of the 10 richest pastors in the world, eight of them are Nigerians. But it is unfortunate that rather than use their wealth to help the poor around them, the majority of them are living in affluence and engaging in ephemeral projects.
“It is a shame that our big pastors showcase their wealth and even compete with each other. They build walls around themselves and clamor for people’s worship to massage their egos. Let’s note that our days are numbered.
“In the midst of hunger and suffering, our rich pastors are busy planning to ride the latest cars and even fly in jets around the world. The wealthy pastors are struggling to build ‘one-in-town’ cathedrals as if God wants to live in a house built by men.”
Quoting from the Book of Luke Chapter 10, verses 33 to 37, the cleric queried, “Do clergymen understand that God allowed such wealth to get into their hands because of their vantage positions as shepherds?
“The last instruction to Peter by our Lord Jesus was, ‘Feed my sheep,’ and not ‘Acquire worldly wealth.’ Christ’s expectations from the Church are: ‘feed the hungry, help the widows, lift the hands of the weak, clothe the naked, and more.’ We are to bring people into God’s Kingdom by our deeds, not by flaunting our wealth. Repent, sirs!”
Bishop Adeoye challenged other wealthy and influential Nigerians to share with the needy, saying the level of poverty in the country calls for urgent attention.
According to the cleric, rich people are God’s stewards, and it will be sinful if they selfishly monopolize such wealth for themselves and their family members without sharing with the downtrodden.
“Just like the big pastors, we also have thousands of big men and women. I wish to let us know that the Almighty has no record of how much we possess in our bank accounts or how big our investments are but of how many people we are able to help and lift out of poverty,” he said.
He counseled those who have been in the habit of helping the poor to redouble their efforts in such philanthropic gestures, adding that many Nigerians are facing difficulties due to the current economic meltdown.