By Toyin Adeniyi
Controversial pastor and founder of Uyo based Power City International, Dr Abel Damina has challenged popular prosperity teachings that says givers don’t lack while insisting that believers should not equate giving to God with the promise of becoming rich.
In a sermon clip shared on Facebook monitored by Church Times, Pastor Damina described the assertion that “givers never lack” as fraud.
“When you give, you lack. There’s no scripture in the bible that says when you give to God, you’ll be a rich person.” He said.
He explained that giving, by its nature, creates a temporary lack, as resources are parted with. According to him, believers often have to work again to recover what they have given, and in some cases, may not recover it at all.
Pastor Damina went on to illustrate his point with an anecdote about a man who reportedly donated three cars to his church in expectation of becoming wealthy, only to find himself struggling afterward.
The pastor advised that the man could retrieve one of the vehicles, noting that his giving was already accompanied by regret, which undermines its spiritual value.
He further described the belief that giving leads to instant riches as a “mindset” that has been wrongly ingrained in many Christians, stressing the need for a reorientation through proper scriptural teaching.
“I was of that mindset for years,” Damina admitted, explaining that his perspective changed after observing that many consistent givers remained financially challenged, while wealthy individuals often attributed their success to tithing despite having thriving businesses or careers.
Pastor Damina further emphasised that God’s blessings are already evident in the resources He has placed on the earth, rather than being triggered by acts such as tithing or offerings. According to Abel Damina, God has already blessed humanity through creation, making provision available to all.
“He has already blessed,” he said, stressing that divine blessing is not a response to giving but a reality established from the beginning.