At the July 2024 Leadership Empowerment Summit held at LFC Canaanland, Bishop David Oyedepo delivered a message on financial integrity and contentment, cautioning against living beyond one's means.
"The moment you start doing what is beyond you, you are heading for trouble," Bishop Oyedepo warned. He shared his personal experiences to illustrate the importance of financial discipline and accountability within the church and in personal life.
Bishop Oyedepo emphasized the need for order and integrity, especially in financial matters. "Allow the set order to work. Disorderly people don't make much out of life," he said. "They can't say something went wrong now in the Church account and they are asking for me. No! They know who to ask from; they should go after them."
He recounted his own practices of meticulous record-keeping during church-sponsored trips, ensuring every expense was accounted for, down to the tollgate fees. "I will wait and collect receipts because they may not… I can't be explaining that we went to… they collected receipts. I will wait and collect change too. No! Church money for you? How? Are you a priest? No! They say: ‘Priest, carry your car.’ I will not carry my car; give me my change! I will attach the receipts to return it. We buy fuel, I wait and collect receipts. Both by teaching and by example. God has helped me to communicate what it means to maintain financial integrity."
He extended this call for integrity to all church members and officials, emphasizing that financial accountability applies to everyone, including cell ministers. "May each one of us succeed to maintain that at our various levels."
Highlighting the dangers of living beyond one's means, he recounted a time when the church couldn't afford to rent a house for 45,000 per annum in Ikeja. "I asked them, 'Is it for sale?' They mustn't hear in my village that I paid that much money to rent a house. That's the level. Don't play pride. Settle for your level per time. They call it contentment. You are renting a house that is more than your income. What a life."
Bishop Oyedepo concluded by encouraging sustained commitment and integrity, stressing that past commitments hold no value if not maintained. He called on everyone to continue their dedication and to trust in God's blessings and provisions.
Fast forward the VIDEO to 1 hour 30 minutes for the sermon