Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), shared on Thursday, October 3, that giving 10 percent as tithe is for beginners. He was addressing a youth congregation at the ongoing RCCG Youth Convention held at Redemption City, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State.
During his message, Pastor Adeboye explained that he has personally moved beyond giving 10 percent as tithe and encouraged others to consider doing the same. He said, “It’s wrong for me to say you should be paying only 10 percent.”
Pastor Adeboye also apologized for his earlier statement suggesting that Christians who don’t pay tithe might not make it to heaven. He clarified, “I apologise for saying ‘If you don’t pay tithe, you might not make it to heaven.’ I’m sorry, that’s wrong, and it’s not in the Bible. What the Bible says is ‘Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see God.’”
He further explained that while tithing is important, living a peaceful and holy life is what ultimately matters for making it to heaven.
Adeboye illustrated his point by sharing a story about a man who pledged to give N3.5 million during a fundraising event at a conference of the late American preacher, Kenneth Hagin. The man told Adeboye that he had started a company with just $500 five years earlier and had promised God to give 90 percent of his income, rather than the usual 10 percent. Now, his company’s turnover is $50 million.
“From that day onward, I have been increasing my own steadily. I’ve not reached 90 percent yet, but I’m far from 10 percent. It’s wrong for me to say you should be paying only 10 percent,” Pastor Adeboye said.
He added that those who want to be in control of their finances and achieve greater success should consider going “far-far beyond 10 percent” in their tithing. He concluded by saying that he hopes to share more details about this teaching with the congregation soon.
