The Open Heaven 13 June 2026 devotional for today is POVERTY ≠GODLINESS.
This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVEN 13 JUNE 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: POVERTY ≠GODLINESS
MEMORISE:
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
3 John 2
READ: 2 Kings 4:1-7
1 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.
2 And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.
3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.
5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.
6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.
7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 13 JUNE 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
In the 70s, when I became born again, it was widely believed among Christians that poverty is one of the criteria for being a true child of God.
This belief was so strong that when someone gifted me a Mercedes-Benz, I parked it in my garage unused for months until the Lord told me I was hindering the blessings of the person who gave me the car by not using it. I was afraid that people would think I had backslidden if they saw me in such an expensive car.
Because of what the Lord had said to me, I decided to drive the car just once, and l recall that I felt so ashamed that day. After that day, I said, “Lord, I have driven the car, can I sell it now?” He agreed, and I sold it.
Not long after that, someone gave me a limousine with six doors. When I saw it, I said, “Lord, you know that even if they put my dead body in this car, it will jump out of it.”
That is how much we thought that poverty was directly proportional to godliness in those days, and because of that, the devil cheated us. He raised people to take over companies and industries until Christians were at the mercy of evil people running different economies around the world.
There is nothing godly about poverty; it has sent many people to hell, just as riches have done.
Poverty has made many youths decide never to follow the path of their Christian parents because of how badly they suffered while growing up. It has made the people of the world mock the Almighty God because they thought that Christians were dumb as a result of their devotion to God.
In today’s Bible reading, one of Elisha’s proteges died in poverty and left an inheritance of debt for his family. If his wife had not run to Elisha and received the word of the Lord that turned their poverty to wealth, his two sons, who were facing a lifetime of slavery, could have grown up hating God even though their father was a godly man.
God is not poor (Haggai 2:8), so poverty is not godliness. God gives his children power to make wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18), and it is His desire to prosper them even as their soul prospers (3 John 1:2). Beloved, reject poverty! It is not the will of God for your life.
KEY POINT
There is nothing godly about poverty.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Psalms 43-49
Open Heavens HYMN 52: THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS
OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 13 JUNE 2026 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: 3 John 2
“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”
This verse is the Apostle John’s prayer for Gaius, and Daddy Adeboye anchors today’s devotional on it because it reveals God’s heart for His children. The phrase “above all things” indicates priority—prosperity and health are not secondary or optional blessings; they are God’s revealed desire for believers. However, the verse contains a crucial condition: “even as thy soul prospereth.” Prosperity is not detached from spiritual health. When your soul prospers (in knowledge of God, obedience, and character), the material prosperity that follows will not destroy you. But poverty, Daddy Adeboye argues, is not a mark of holiness—it is a thief that has robbed Christians of their inheritance.
BIBLE READING: 2 Kings 4:1-7
This is the story of the widow of a son of the prophets. Her husband died, leaving behind massive debt. The creditor was coming to take her two sons as slaves. She had nothing but a pot of oil. Elisha instructed her to borrow empty vessels from her neighbors, shut the door, and pour the oil. The oil flowed until every vessel was full. She sold the oil, paid the debt, and lived on the remainder. This miracle is Daddy Adeboye’s central text: a godly man (one of Elisha’s proteges) died in poverty, leaving his family destitute. If God had not intervened, his sons would have grown up hating God because of the suffering they endured.
The Lie of Poverty as Godliness
1. The Theological Error of Daddy Adeboye’s Generation
Daddy Adeboye shares a startling personal testimony:
“In the 70s, when I became born again, it was widely believed among Christians that poverty is one of the criteria for being a true child of God.”
This belief was not limited to a fringe group—it was widespread. Christians genuinely thought that being poor made them more holy, more humble, more like Jesus.
| The False Belief | The Scriptural Reality |
|---|---|
| Poverty equals piety | “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 24:1) |
| Riches are inherently sinful | Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon, and Job were all wealthy |
| Jesus was poor, so we must be poor | Jesus had a treasurer (Judas) and was anointed with expensive perfume |
| God wants His children struggling | “I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper” (3 John 2) |
“That is how much we thought that poverty was directly proportional to godliness in those days, and because of that, the devil cheated us. He raised people to take over companies and industries until Christians were at the mercy of evil people running different economies around the world.”
This is a profound historical insight. While Christians were avoiding wealth as “unholy,” unbelievers seized economic power. By the time Christians realized their error, they had become dependent on the very systems run by those who did not fear God.
2. Daddy Adeboye’s Mercedes-Benz Testimony
The personal story is both humorous and convicting:
“When someone gifted me a Mercedes-Benz, I parked it in my garage unused for months until the Lord told me I was hindering the blessings of the person who gave me the car by not using it. I was afraid that people would think I had backslidden if they saw me in such an expensive car.”
Notice the layers:
- The gift: A Mercedes-Benz (luxury, expensive, prestigious)
- The reaction: Parked it unused for months (fear of man’s opinion)
- God’s correction: “You are hindering the blessing of the giver”
- The reluctant obedience: Drove it once, felt ashamed
- The compromise: “Lord, can I sell it now?” (God agreed)
Then came the limousine:
“Not long after that, someone gave me a limousine with six doors. When I saw it, I said, ‘Lord, you know that even if they put my dead body in this car, it will jump out of it.’”
Daddy Adeboye’s honesty is refreshing. He admits that even after God corrected him, his internal programming against wealth was so strong that he reacted with shock at the next gift. This shows how deeply the poverty-godliness lie had penetrated Christian consciousness.
Why Poverty Is Not Godly: The Consequences
1. Poverty Has Sent Many People to Hell
Daddy Adeboye makes a shocking statement:
“There is nothing godly about poverty; it has sent many people to hell, just as riches have done.”
How does poverty send people to hell?
| Way Poverty Leads to Hell | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Desperation leads to sin | Stealing, fraud, prostitution, corruption—done out of lack, not greed |
| Bitterness against God | “If God loves me, why am I suffering?” becomes a root of unbelief |
| Abandonment of faith | Youths decide never to follow their Christian parents because of childhood suffering |
| Mockery of God by the world | Unbelievers see poor Christians and conclude God is powerless |
“Poverty has made many youths decide never to follow the path of their Christian parents because of how badly they suffered while growing up.”
This is a devastating indictment. Children who watch their godly parents struggle to pay school fees, afford medical care, or put food on the table often conclude: “If this is what serving God leads to, I want no part of it.” Poverty becomes a barrier to the gospel.
2. The Widow in 2 Kings 4: A Case Study
Daddy Adeboye highlights the tragedy:
“One of Elisha’s proteges died in poverty and left an inheritance of debt for his family. If his wife had not run to Elisha and received the word of the Lord that turned their poverty to wealth, his two sons, who were facing a lifetime of slavery, could have grown up hating God even though their father was a godly man.”
Consider the trajectory:
| Without Divine Intervention | With Divine Intervention |
|---|---|
| Widow loses two sons to slavery | Sons are freed |
| Debt consumes the family | Debt is paid in full |
| The godly man’s legacy is shame | The godly man’s legacy is miraculous provision |
| Sons grow up resenting God | Sons grow up testifying of God’s faithfulness |
The man was godly. He served Elisha. He was a son of the prophets. But he died in debt. His godliness did not prevent poverty. And if God had not acted, his own children would have cursed the God their father served.
“God is not poor (Haggai 2:8), so poverty is not godliness.”
Haggai 2:8 – “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.” God owns everything. He is not impoverished. His children should not be impoverished when they walk in His will.
The Biblical Balance: Wealth Is a Tool, Not a God
Daddy Adeboye is not preaching a “name it and claim it” prosperity gospel without conditions. Notice the balance:
1. Prosperity Comes with Soul Prosperity (3 John 2)
“God gives his children power to make wealth (Deuteronomy 8:8), and it is His desire to prosper them even as their soul prospers.”
| If Your Soul Prospers | If Your Soul Does Not Prosper |
|---|---|
| Wealth becomes a tool for kingdom purposes | Wealth becomes a snare and a trap |
| You remain humble in abundance | You become proud and forget God (Deuteronomy 8:14) |
| You give generously | You hoard selfishly |
| You are trusted with more | You lose what you have |
The condition matters. A prosperous soul (full of the knowledge of God, obedient to His word, sensitive to the Spirit) can handle material prosperity. A barren soul will be destroyed by the very wealth it craves.
2. Riches Can Send People to Hell
Daddy Adeboye is careful to say: “poverty has sent many people to hell, just as riches have done.”
| Riches Send People to Hell When… |
|---|
| They trust in wealth rather than God (1 Timothy 6:17) |
| They refuse to share with the needy (James 5:1-6) |
| Wealth becomes their idol (Matthew 6:24) |
| They gain the world but lose their soul (Mark 8:36) |
The issue is not money. The issue is the heart’s posture toward money. Poverty is not a virtue; wealth is not a vice. Both can be used for good or evil, for God’s glory or for sin.
How the Devil Used the Poverty Doctrine
Daddy Adeboye provides a historical and spiritual analysis:
“He raised people to take over companies and industries until Christians were at the mercy of evil people running different economies around the world.”
| The Devil’s Strategy | The Result |
|---|---|
| Convince Christians that wealth is unholy | Christians abandon economic influence |
| Unbelievers seize businesses, industries, governance | The world’s systems are run by those who hate God |
| Christians become dependent on ungodly systems | Believers beg for jobs, loans, and opportunities from those who mock their faith |
| The gospel is hindered | “How can you save us when your own people are poor?” |
This is not a conspiracy theory; it is historical reality. When Christians withdrew from wealth creation, they withdrew from influence. And when they withdrew from influence, they lost the ability to shape society for righteousness.
Rejecting Poverty: A Command, Not a Suggestion
Daddy Adeboye concludes with a direct command:
“Beloved, reject poverty! It is not the will of God for your life.”
To “reject” something means to refuse it, to push it away, to declare it illegitimate for your life. This is not arrogance; it is alignment with God’s revealed will.
| What Rejecting Poverty Means | What Rejecting Poverty Does NOT Mean |
|---|---|
| Believing God wants you to prosper | Becoming obsessed with money |
| Working diligently and developing skills | Being greedy or covetous |
| Seeking opportunities for wealth creation | Exploiting others or cutting corners |
| Using wealth for kingdom purposes | Hoarding wealth for selfish luxury |
| Praying for financial breakthroughs | Abandoning faith if wealth does not come immediately |
How to Walk in God’s Prosperity (Practical Steps)
Based on Daddy Adeboye’s teaching and Scripture, here is how to reject poverty and embrace God’s will for prosperity:
- Renew Your Mind (Romans 12:2): Stop believing that poverty is godly. Read Scripture that affirms God’s desire to prosper you. Confess aloud: “God is not poor, and I am His child. Poverty is not my inheritance.”
- Develop a Wealth-Making Skill (Deuteronomy 8:18): “It is He that giveth thee power to get wealth.” That “power” includes creativity, intelligence, skill, and opportunity. Do not wait for manna to fall; work diligently, learn, innovate, and produce value.
- Settle the Issue of Stewardship: Before wealth comes, decide: “This wealth is not for my destruction. I will tithe, give offerings, bless the poor, and fund the gospel.” If you cannot be trusted with little, you will not be given much.
- Pray for Prosperity Without Shame: The widow ran to Elisha. She did not sit in poverty and call it humility. She cried out for help. Pray boldly: “Lord, give me the oil that pays debts, frees my children, and leaves me with abundance.”
- Reject the Spirit of Poverty: Poverty is not just economic; it is a mindset. Reject thoughts that say: “I will always struggle. My family is poor. God must want me this way.” Replace them with: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1).
Warning: Do Not Let the Devil Cheat You
Daddy Adeboye’s final warning is clear: the devil used the poverty doctrine to cheat Christians out of their inheritance. Do not let him continue.
| The Old Lie | The Truth |
|---|---|
| “Christians should be poor to be holy” | “God desires you to prosper as your soul prospers” |
| “Wealth is worldly” | “Wealth is a tool for the gospel” |
| “God keeps His people poor to humble them” | “God gives power to get wealth to establish His covenant” |
| “It’s spiritual to struggle financially” | “Poverty has sent many to hell and made others abandon the faith” |
Conclusion: Your Prayer for Prosperity
Daddy Adeboye closes with a declaration of God’s desire for your prosperity. Do not settle for lack. Do not call poverty humility. Embrace God’s will for your financial well-being—for your sake, for your children’s sake, and for the sake of the gospel.
Pray this:
“Father, I thank You that You are not poor. Silver and gold belong to You. You have given me power to get wealth, not for my own selfish consumption, but to establish Your covenant on the earth. Forgive me for believing the lie that poverty is godly. Forgive me for rejecting blessings because I feared the opinion of men. Today, I reject poverty. It is not my inheritance. I embrace Your will for my life: prosperity even as my soul prospers. Give me wealth without sorrow. Give me resources to pay every debt, to free my children from financial slavery, and to fund the spread of the gospel. Make me a channel of blessing, not a reservoir of lack. In Jesus’ mighty name.”
Action Steps:
- The Belief Audit: Write down what you truly believe about money and godliness. Do you secretly think poor Christians are more spiritual? Confess that lie. Replace it with 3 John 2.
- The Skill Development Plan: Identify one skill you can develop over the next six months that increases your capacity to create wealth. Enroll in a course, find a mentor, or dedicate time daily to practice.
- The Generosity Test: If God gave you unexpected wealth today, what would you do with it? Write out a plan: tithe, offerings, debts, savings, kingdom projects. If your plan is selfish, your heart is not ready for prosperity. Ask God to make you a faithful steward.
“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” (3 John 2)
Reject poverty. Embrace prosperity—for your good, your family’s future, and God’s glory. The devil has cheated Christians long enough. Today, the cheating stops.
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