The Open Heaven 14 June 2026 devotional for today is PROSPERITY ≠ GODLINESS.
This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVEN 14 JUNE 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: PROSPERITY ≠ GODLINESS
MEMORISE:
Charge them that are rich in this world, that that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
1 Timothy 6:17
READ: Luke 12:16-21
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 14 JUNE 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
Many years ago, a fellow believer said he wanted to change to another religion because he had observed that many of those who practise this other religion are very rich. I quickly made him realise that being wealthy is not a function of religion, nor is it an indication of godliness.
Genesis 4:16-17 tells us that Cain built a city after he departed from the presence of the Lord. Building a city is a mighty feat; however, Cain was no longer dwelling in God’s presence when he built that city.
Don’t be deceived into thinking that every green and flourishing branch is connected to the root, as some branches will remain green and seemingly healthy for a while even after they have been cut from the tree. Eventually, however, they will turn yellow and wither away.
It is true that God blesses His children with the power to make wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18); however, wealth in itself should never be used as a measure of godliness.
God measures our godliness by our fruit (Matthew 7:16). When His children bear the right fruit, He blesses them, and one of the signs of His blessing is wealth, as seen in the life of Abraham, who was rich in cattle, silver, and gold (Genesis 13:2) Isaac was also a godly and prosperous person. The Bible says in Genesis 26:12-14 that he waxed richer and richer until he became exceedingly great and prosperous.
God wants you to be wealthy because He loves blessing His children with good gifts (Matthew 7.11).
However, He doesn’t want you to measure your life by the abundance or scarcity of your material possessions (Luke 12:15). Money is a tool, and when God entrusts you with it, He wants you to be faithful with it. He wants you to be rich towards Him and use the treasures He has given you to bring glory to Him.
In today’s Bible reading, the rich fool didn’t understand that he was meant to be a good steward of his wealth. His life was cut short because he was not rich towards God and didn’t acknowledge Him as his source; rather, he decided to lay up treasures for himself.
Beloved, God places more value on your fellowship with Him and the state of your heart (1 Peter 3:4) than your material possessions or the amount of money in your bank account. Let your focus be on cultivating true prosperity, which is the prosperity of your soul (3 John 2), and not material things.
KEY POINT:
Material wealth is not a measure of godliness.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Psalms 50-55
Open Heavens HYMN 58: MY HOPE IS BUILT ON NOTHING ELSE
OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 14 JUNE 2026 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: 1 Timothy 6:17
“Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.”
This verse is a direct command to those who have wealth. Daddy Adeboye anchors today’s devotional on this text because it corrects two dangerous errors: first, the error of thinking that wealth equals godliness; second, the error of thinking that wealth is evil. Paul says the rich should not be “highminded” (arrogant, proud) nor trust in “uncertain riches” (money is unpredictable and temporary). Instead, they should trust in the living God who not only gives riches but gives them “to enjoy.” Wealth is a gift from God, not a measure of spirituality, and it comes with a responsibility to remain humble and God-centered.
BIBLE READING: Luke 12:16-21
This is the Parable of the Rich Fool. A wealthy man’s land produced abundantly. He decided to tear down his barns and build bigger ones to store all his goods. He said to his soul, “Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” But God said to him, “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” Jesus concluded: “So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Daddy Adeboye uses this parable to show that wealth without godliness is empty. The rich fool had possessions, but he was not “rich toward God.” His wealth became his god, and he lost his soul.
The Deception: Wealth as a Measure of Godliness
1. The Believer Who Wanted to Change Religions
Daddy Adeboye opens with a striking anecdote:
“Many years ago, a fellow believer said he wanted to change to another religion because he had observed that many of those who practise this other religion are very rich.”
This believer had fallen into a dangerous trap: he assumed that because some people in another religion were wealthy, their religion must be true or superior. Daddy Adeboye corrected him immediately:
“I quickly made him realise that being wealthy is not a function of religion, nor is it an indication of godliness.”
| False Assumption | Biblical Truth |
|---|---|
| Wealthy people must be blessed by God | Cain built a city after being cursed and departing from God’s presence |
| Poverty indicates sin or lack of favor | Job was godly yet lost everything temporarily |
| A particular religion is true because its followers are rich | The wealth of the wicked is stored up for the righteous (Proverbs 13:22) |
| God only blesses His own with wealth | “He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good” (Matthew 5:45) |
*”Genesis 4:16-17 tells us that Cain built a city after he departed from the presence of the Lord. Building a city is a mighty feat; however, Cain was no longer dwelling in God’s presence when he built that city.”*
This is a devastating point. Cain was a murderer, a wanderer, a man cut off from God’s presence. Yet he had the intelligence, resources, and organizational ability to build a city. Wealth and achievement are not proof of divine favor. Unbelievers become CEOs, billionaires, and world leaders. Their wealth does not mean God approves of their lifestyle or their religion.
2. The Cut Branch That Still Looks Green
Daddy Adeboye uses a powerful agricultural illustration:
“Don’t be deceived into thinking that every green and flourishing branch is connected to the root, as some branches will remain green and seemingly healthy for a while even after they have been cut from the tree. Eventually, however, they will turn yellow and wither away.”
| The Cut Branch | The Unbeliever with Wealth |
|---|---|
| Still looks green for a season | Still appears prosperous for a season |
| No longer connected to the root for nourishment | No longer connected to God, the source of true life |
| Will eventually wither | Will eventually face judgment and loss of eternal significance |
| Death is certain but delayed | “This night thy soul shall be required of thee” (Luke 12:20) |
Do not envy the wealth of the wicked. Their prosperity is temporary. Their branch is cut. They may look flourishing today, but without the root of Christ, they will wither eternally.
The Biblical Balance: Wealth Can Be a Blessing, Not a Measure
1. Godly Men Were Wealthy
Daddy Adeboye is careful to affirm that God does bless His children with wealth:
| Godly Wealthy Man | Scriptural Reference | Nature of Wealth |
|---|---|---|
| Abraham | Genesis 13:2 – rich in cattle, silver, and gold | Blessed by God |
| Isaac | Genesis 26:12-14 – waxed richer and richer, became exceedingly great | God’s blessing on obedience |
| Jacob | Genesis 30:43 – increased exceedingly | God’s faithfulness |
| Job | Job 42:12 – the Lord blessed the latter end more than the beginning | Restored wealth |
“God wants you to be wealthy because He loves blessing His children with good gifts (Matthew 7:11).”
Matthew 7:11 – “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”
If an earthly father delights in giving good gifts to his children, how much more does your heavenly Father? Wealth is not evil. Poverty is not a virtue. God is not glorified when His children are destitute while the wicked flourish.
2. But Wealth Is Not the Measure
“God measures our godliness by our fruit (Matthew 7:16).”
| Fruit of Godliness | Not the Measure |
|---|---|
| Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) | Bank account balance |
| Winning souls, making disciples | Size of house or car |
| Humility, obedience, prayerfulness | Luxury possessions |
| Generosity, stewardship | Accumulation of treasures |
A man can have millions and be godly. A man can have millions and be wicked. A man can have nothing and be godly. A man can have nothing and be bitter. Wealth or poverty alone tells you nothing about a person’s relationship with God.
The Rich Fool: A Warning Against Wrong Priorities
1. The Fool’s Error
Daddy Adeboye analyzes the rich fool from Luke 12:
| What the Rich Fool Did | What He Should Have Done |
|---|---|
| Asked “What shall I do with my abundance?” | Asked “How can I use this abundance for God’s kingdom?” |
| Built bigger barns for himself | Built storehouses for the poor and the Lord’s work |
| Said “Soul, take your ease, eat, drink, be merry” | Said “Soul, serve the Lord with these resources” |
| Laid up treasures for himself | Laid up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-20) |
| Was not rich toward God | Was rich toward God through generosity and stewardship |
“The rich fool didn’t understand that he was meant to be a good steward of his wealth. His life was cut short because he was not rich towards God and didn’t acknowledge Him as his source; rather, he decided to lay up treasures for himself.”
The tragedy is not that the rich fool had wealth. The tragedy is that his wealth had him. He did not own his possessions; his possessions owned him. And on the very night he declared his soul secure, God demanded it back.
2. The Danger of Trusting in Uncertain Riches
The memory verse (1 Timothy 6:17) warns against trusting in “uncertain riches.” Why are riches uncertain?
| Reason Riches Are Uncertain | Explanation |
|---|---|
| They can be stolen | Theft, fraud, market crashes |
| They can be destroyed | Fire, natural disaster, poor investments |
| They can be devalued | Inflation, economic shifts |
| They can be left behind | You cannot take a single dollar into eternity |
| They can kill you | The love of money is a root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10) |
“He wants you to be rich towards Him and use the treasures He has given you to bring glory to Him.”
True Prosperity: The Prosperity of the Soul
Daddy Adeboye returns to 3 John 2, which was the memory verse in the previous day’s devotional:
“God places more value on your fellowship with Him and the state of your heart (1 Peter 3:4) than your material possessions or the amount of money in your bank account. Let your focus be on cultivating true prosperity, which is the prosperity of your soul (3 John 2), and not material things.”
| True Prosperity (Soul Prosperity) | False Prosperity (Material Only) |
|---|---|
| Growing in knowledge of God | Growing in bank balance |
| Peace that passes understanding | Anxiety about investments |
| Joy unspeakable and full of glory | Temporary happiness from purchases |
| Contentment in any circumstance | Constant craving for more |
| Eternal treasure in heaven | Temporary treasure on earth |
1 Peter 3:4 – “The ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”
God values your inner state more than your net worth. A meek and quiet spirit—trusting God whether you have much or little—is precious to Him. A proud spirit, whether rich or poor, is not.
The Proper Place of Wealth in the Christian Life
Based on Daddy Adeboye’s teaching and Scripture, here is the balanced view of wealth:
1. Wealth Is a Tool, Not a Goal
| Wealth as a Tool | Wealth as a Goal |
|---|---|
| Used to fund the gospel | Pursued for personal comfort |
| Used to help the poor | Hoarded for selfish security |
| Used to bless others | Used to impress others |
| Temporary stewardship | Eternal obsession |
2. Wealth Is a Test, Not a Trophy
“When God entrusts you with it, He wants you to be faithful with it.”
| If You Have Little | If You Have Much |
|---|---|
| Test of contentment: Are you grateful? | Test of humility: Are you proud? |
| Test of trust: Do you still believe God provides? | Test of generosity: Do you give freely? |
| Test of obedience: Do you tithe from little? | Test of stewardship: Do you manage well? |
3. Wealth Is Temporary, the Soul Is Eternal
| Material Wealth | Your Soul |
|---|---|
| Stays on earth when you die | Goes to eternity |
| Can be lost in a day | Is everlasting |
| Cannot satisfy deeply | Finds rest only in God |
| Will be burned up | Will give account to the Creator |
How to Be Rich Toward God (Practical Steps)
Based on Daddy Adeboye’s teaching, here is how to pursue true prosperity:
- Check Your Heart’s Posture: Ask yourself: Do I want wealth to serve God or to serve myself? Would I still love God if I lost everything? If your answer reveals an unhealthy attachment to money, repent.
- Acknowledge God as Your Source: The rich fool never thanked God for the abundant harvest. He spoke only to himself. Every morning, declare: “The Lord is my provider. This wealth comes from Him and belongs to Him.”
- Be Rich Toward God Through Generosity:
- Tithe faithfully (Malachi 3:10)
- Give offerings above the tithe
- Support the poor, widows, orphans, and missionaries
- Build God’s kingdom, not your own empire
- Do Not Trust in Riches: When the stock market crashes or a business fails, your peace should not crash with it. Your trust must be in the living God, not in uncertain riches.
- Cultivate Soul Prosperity: Spend more time seeking God’s face than seeking money. Read Scripture. Pray. Worship. Fellowship. A prosperous soul will handle material prosperity without being destroyed.
Warning: Do Not Envy the Wicked or Despise the Poor
Daddy Adeboye’s devotional carries two implicit warnings:
| Warning | Application |
|---|---|
| Do not envy the wealthy wicked | Their wealth is temporary. Their branch is cut. Do not trade your eternity for their temporary abundance. |
| Do not despise the poor believer | They may be richer toward God than many millionaires. God measures fruit, not net worth. |
Conclusion: Your Prayer for True Prosperity
Daddy Adeboye closes by redirecting your focus from material things to the prosperity of your soul. Pray this prayer with a heart that seeks God first.
Pray this:
“Father, I thank You that You are the giver of every good gift. Forgive me for the times I have looked at the wealth of unbelievers and been envious. Forgive me for the times I have measured my spirituality by my bank account. Today, I renounce the lie that wealth equals godliness. I renounce the lie that poverty is a virtue. Help me to be rich toward You—to use whatever You entrust to me for Your glory and the good of others. Give me a prosperous soul: full of faith, peace, joy, and love. Whether I have little or much, let my heart be fixed on You. I will not trust in uncertain riches. I trust in the living God who gives me richly all things to enjoy. In Jesus’ mighty name.”
Action Steps:
- The Wealth-Godliness Audit: Examine your heart. Have you ever assumed a wealthy person must be godly? Have you ever assumed a poor person must be sinful? Confess these assumptions. Replace them with Matthew 7:16 – fruit, not wealth, is the measure.
- The Rich Fool Reflection: Read Luke 12:16-21 slowly. Ask: Am I building bigger barns for myself, or am I rich toward God? Where is my treasure—on earth or in heaven?
- The Soul Prosperity Plan: For the next 30 days, prioritize your soul’s health over your wallet’s size. Spend as much time in prayer and Scripture as you spend checking your finances. Watch what God does in your heart.
“Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.” (1 Timothy 6:17)
Wealth is not the measure. Fruit is the measure. Seek first the kingdom. Be rich toward God. All else will follow.
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