Renowned Nigerian preacher Apostle Abel Damina has criticized the widespread misinterpretation of Luke 6:38 in Christian teachings on financial prosperity.
According to the pastor, the verse has been wrongly weaponized to compel believers into giving money with the promise of divine wealth.
Recounting an experience during a recent trip to Ghana, Apostle Damina said he was invited to a church service where a preacher began outlining “four realms of prosperity” based on the scripture.
“He said, good measure was realm one, shaken together, pressed down, running over—four realms,” Apostle Damina recounted. “Then he added that to move from one realm to the next, you must give money. And in my mind, I said, this guy is a thief. This is not true.”
He went on to debunk the notion that Luke 6:38 refers to financial giving. According to him, the surrounding verses clearly define the context.
“Luke 6:38 is not talking about money. The pretext and posttext of that scripture is about human relationships and mercy,” he stated. “Jesus was contrasting how God relates with man and how men relate with one another.”
Apostle Damina explained that, unlike humans who give conditionally, God’s giving is not dependent on what man offers in return.
“God gives even to the unthankful. He doesn’t give because you gave to Him. He gives out of love and mercy,” he said. “It’s not a scripture on offering—it’s a scripture on mercy.”
The cleric also cautioned believers against accepting prosperity teachings that lack contextual scriptural backing, urging them to examine verses thoroughly before embracing doctrines.
