By Dele James
In almost 24 years of being married to the best woman/wife in the world, one thing that has often caused disagreement between us, is my Giving Lifestyle.
From the very onset, noticing how I generously give out money and other material possessions to the NEEDY (including a car, I don’t do laulau o), she had advised (initially), and insisted (later), “My husband, let’s budget this GIVING o! Let’s have a peg/limit for each month, and once that limit is reached, whoever needs what, would have to wait till the following month!”
Honestly, that’s the sensible thing to do to stay liquid, and possibly never go broke – as I have been many times in this life,🤪 but, when it comes to HELPING PEOPLE in dire straits (and, she does her own sacrificial GIVINGS too o 👏), I mostly can’t look away.
When GOD, or COMPASSION, moves me to GIVE, I mostly obey, and, by GOD’S GRACE, that’s how it’s going to be till I die. Amen!🙏
That’s a ship that sailed a long time ago, and, it’s never coming back! I’ve been broke many times, because of this lifestyle, but I’ve NEVER BEEN BROKEN. HE, Who works in me, BOTH TO WILL and DO ACCORDING TO HIS GOOD PLEASURE, HAS ALWAYS COME THROUGH FOR ME. In HIM ALONE is my TRUST and CONFIDENCE! HALLELUJAH!🙌
Now, when some ‘professional beggars’ read things like this, they swarm me with all kinds of SOS messages. Mbanu! Most of my GIVINGS are GOD directed, and they usually go to people that don’t even ask me for anything – including stopping in traffic to give to someone walking on the road.
Self-centeredness and greed got the church, Nigeria, and the whole world, where we are today, and ONLY SACRIFICIAL (not sensible/calculated) LIVING, like our LORD JESUS CHRIST, can deliver us from the terrible mess the church/country/world is in. There’s no other way!
Addressing CHRISTIANS now, must you go on foreign vacation (alone or with family) every year? Can’t such funds be given/SACRIFICED to meet the NEEDS of others for one year?
Must you buy that expensive shoe, TV, phone, etc., just to prove status or that you have arrived? Must you?! Even if you are already taking care of some needy people around you, you can CERTAINLY DO MORE if you’ll cut down on what you expend on luxury items.
And, to our G.Os and other Men of GOD (mostly of themselves), who fly private jets and live in opulence, like kings and queens (which we are, spiritually, in CHRIST), must you have those jets/expensive toys? Even if GOD asked you to acquire them, as some of you claim, can’t you tell GOD, “FATHER, THANK FOR THIS GREAT HONOUR AND PRIVILEGE, BUT, I’D RATHER WE GIVE THE MONEY FOR THE JET TO THE SEVERAL NEEDY PEOPLE IN OUR CHURCHES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AND AROUND THE GLOBE.” In fact, our HEAVENLY FATHER, that I know, would have been more impressed with a response like that than anything else.
That’s what Ahaz did in Isaiah 7:10-14; same for Solomon in 1 Kings 3:3-15. Why is it so hard for ‘big pastors’ of nowadays to do likewise? If the Pope doesn’t own a private jet, no pastor’s work is big enough for one! Hear me well, THERE’S ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ANY PASTOR, ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, IS DOING THAT JUSTIFIES THE ACQUISITION OF private jets, limousine or Rolls Royce! Absolutely NOTHING! If they need to charter or rent any such luxury for GOD’S WORK, fine, but owning one, is pure worldliness and self-aggrandizing. QED!
Besides, let them learn from many wealthy individuals (far richer than them, who don’t live on tithes and offerings) who avoid the high acquisition and maintenance costs of private jets, opting to charter or fly commercial. Notable figures include:
Warren Buffett – Although Berkshire Hathaway owns a large fractional jet network (NetJets), the billionaire famously prefers flying commercial for his personal travels and historically referred to his past jet as “The Indefensible.”
Ingvar Kamprad – The late IKEA founder was famously frugal, choosing to fly economy class and travel by public transport throughout his life.
Mark Cuban – Despite his billionaire status, the entrepreneur uses private aviation subscriptions and chartered flights rather than holding the liability of a standalone aircraft.
Jennifer Lawrence – With an estimated net worth of over $160 million, the Oscar-winning actress travels via commercial business class for her film and promotional tours.
Jennifer Aniston: The celebrity, worth over $300 million, largely avoids owning private aircraft due to a well-known fear of flying.
Also, many of Africa’s wealthiest individuals, including billionaires like Mohammed Dewji (Tanzania) and Patrice Motsepe (South Africa), do not own private jets. Instead, these ultra-high-net-worth individuals prioritize liquidity, corporate investments, and delayed gratification.
Even Aliko Dangote, prefers chartering flights, utilizing commercial first-class. So, what BUSINESS has any pastor, bishop or G.O. got with private jets? Let’s stop this deceitful nonsense joh! Are they bigger than JESUS CHRIST WHO FOUNDED THE CHURCH WITH HIS BLOOD, or Peter and Paul – the pillars of the early church?! None of them lived the way our spiritual leaders are living today. None!
For a fact, I’m well aware that more than 90 percent of the so-called born-again Christians in Nigeria/Africa (talk less of the millions of ignoramus church goers, who know next to nothing about the early church belief and doctrines), have never READ THEIR BIBLE THROUGH, AND HAVE NEVER HEARD GOD SAY ANYTHING TO THEM, PERSONALLY, except what their pastors and G.Os tell them. That’s not the kind of CHURCH my JESUS CAME TO FOUND. O no!
All these multi-billion dollar cathedrals, and camps, and jets, that we are wasting money on, shall soon fade away. Go and read GOD’S GENERALS, by Roberts Liardon, and you’ll see what became of those who had lifestyles like our present mega pastors, or built the kind of things they are building now. Vanity upon Vanity, it’s all gonna burn, and WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE, SOMEDAY!
And, that’s why I’m not amassing treasures in this world. I make it, use it, and give it away – sometimes, all; as long as PROVISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR MY FAMILY’S WELLBEING: FEEDING, SCHOOL FEES, PARENT’S WELFARE, etc! No Christian SHOULD BE A HOARDER, and none should be extravagant in lifestyle! Disagree to your own detriment,