The Founder of Salvation Ministries, Pastor David Ibiyeomie, has warned Christians against neglecting the payment of tithes, cautioning that failure to fulfil the religious obligation could expose believers to problems they might mistakenly attribute to the devil.
The cleric gave the warning in a sermon ahead of the Christmas season, urging Christians to prioritise tithing before spending money on festive clothes and other personal needs.
In a video circulating online, sighted by PUNCH Online on Sunday, Ibiyeomie stressed the importance of paying tithes faithfully and accurately, warning believers against treating the practice casually.
“Don’t buy a Christmas cloth when you have not paid tithe. It’s dangerous. It’s very dangerous,” he said.
To reinforce his message, the pastor recounted incidents involving vehicle tyre bursts, which he claimed were connected to the alleged failure of drivers to pay their tithes.
Narrating one of the incidents, Ibiyeomie said two tyres of a vehicle conveying him burst during a journey, prompting him to question the driver’s commitment to tithing.
“I said to the driver of the passenger, I said, you don’t pay tithe,” he recalled.
The cleric also narrated another experience involving a driver employed to operate his Rolls-Royce. According to him, two tyres burst while he and his wife were travelling in the vehicle.
“I said, go and check his record. Truth was not a tither,” he claimed, referring to the driver.
Ibiyeomie said he had encountered similar situations involving other drivers who identified as Christians but, according to him, failed to pay their tithes.
The pastor maintained that not every misfortune should be attributed to the devil, urging believers to examine their spiritual commitments rather than automatically blame spiritual attacks for their challenges.
“Not everything is the devil,” he said.
He further cautioned Christians against neglecting tithing during the festive season, warning that such a decision could have consequences for their families.
“I’m telling you this December, don’t tamper with your tithe. Otherwise, they may rush your children,” he said.
The cleric also criticised what he described as inconsistent and inaccurate tithing practices among some Christians, insisting that believers should pay the full amount he considers appropriate rather than give arbitrary sums.
“Many of you are Christians, but don’t pay the correct tithe. You pay as you like. It’s not pay as you go. Pay correct tithe,” he said.
He concluded by urging Christians to take tithing seriously, maintaining that believers should not be quick to blame the devil for every difficulty they encounter.
The pastor’s remarks have drawn attention online amid discussions about tithing, Christian financial obligations and the interpretation of life’s misfortunes.
