Founder and senior pastor of Salvation Ministries David Ibiyeomie says Jesus hates poverty and never visited any poor person during his earthly ministry.
Ibiyeomie stated this during a sermon in his church in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Sunday April 13.
The sermon was later posted on his Tiktok page.
He said though one can come to church as a poor, he is not permitted to remain poor as long as he serves Jesus Christ.
“If I tell you something, it’ll baffle you; Jesus never visited any poor person in his house; check your bible. That means he hates poverty. He visited Lazarus; they were not poor but were giving him food. He visited a sinner, Zacchaeus, who was rich.
“Tell me one poor man Jesus entered his house. He hates poverty; that’s the meaning. He hates poor people. He died for you not to be poor. How can you now come to church with some mentality? You can come poor, but you’re not permitted to remain poor. There’s nothing wrong with you coming to Christ as a poor man, but it’s wrong for you to remain poor. It is wrong,” Ibiyeomie said.
Jesus and poverty
During his three and half years earthly ministry, Jesus cared for, associated with and also had compassion on the poor.
In Luke 8:43-48, Jesus showed compassion to a woman who had been impoverished by illness. She had spent all she had on doctors who couldn’t heal her. He illness had robbed her of her livelihood and ruined her reputation.
In Matthew 19-21, Jesus said, “If you wish to be perfect, go and sell your possessions, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, then come, follow me.”
In Luke 6:20, he said, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.”
In Matthew 11:2-3, Jesus told John the Baptist’s disciples to report to John that the good news was being preached to the poor.
In Matthew 26:11, Jesus said, “The poor you will always have with you, but you will not have me always.”
In 2 Cor. 8:9, Paul the Apostle said, “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sake, he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”
David Ibiyeomie
According to Intel Region, Ibiyeomie is one of the richest clergymen in Nigeria.
“With a reported net worth of $41 million, David Ibiyeomie ranks 4th among the richest pastors in Nigeria in 2024. His wealth primarily comes from contributions and tithes from his large congregation, as well as earnings from his extensive media presence and various church-related ventures,” the report
This could not be independently confirmed by The Christian.