World’s Top 10 Richest Pastors: Adherence to riches is opposing the spirit of evangelical poverty

Shepherding a flock is not an easy undertaking which entails financial provisions to sustain all the ministries that strengthen the community like Sunday Devotions  , Outreach Programs , Spiritual Formations and Seminars, Fellowships, Weekly Prayer Meetings, Retreats, to name a few. Preservation and development of these different ministries demand not only dedication on time and efforts but also monetary aid.  However, a Shepherd of the flock turns to be on double-standards if side by side with shepherding is a drive to amass wealth taken from this ministerial engagement than personal creativity and trade capabilities.  

Let’s take a look to check affluence of the world's renowned pastors:

10) Joseph Prince  – Net worth: $5 Million (Singapore)

  

This Singaporean pastor reportedly earns a yearly salary of $550,000. He is the senior pastor of the New Creation Church in Singapore, whose financial income was reported at $44.7 million US dollars in 2008. He hosts a religious program called “Destined to Reign.” He has addressed many congregations worldwide. 

9) Chris Okotie – Net worth: $10 Million (Nigeria) 

He was a pop musician in the 1980s, embraced the Bible and set up the Household of God Church, one of Nigeria’s most glitzy congregations. He loves automobile and possesses several posh cars which include a Mercedes S600, Rolls-Royce, Hummer and Porsche.

8) Matthew Ashimolowo  – Net worth: $10 Million (Nigeria)

Matthew Ashimolowo’s Kingsway International Christian Center is the largest Pentecostal church in the United Kingdom, with assets worth more than $40 million and earns profit of more than $10 million.

7) T.B. Joshua – Net worth: $15 Million (Nigeria) 

Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua is Nigeria’s most powerful, controversial and philanthropic preacher, who heads the Synagogue Church of all Nations (SCOAN), a congregation he founded in 1987. The Christian minister, televangelist and faith healer is a big provider whose humanitarian works include education, healthcare and rehabilitation programs. He owns the Emmanuel TV, a Christian television network.

6) T.D. Jakes – Net worth: $18 Million (United States) 

He is the apostle/bishop of The Potter’s House, a non-denominational American mega-church that has over 30,000 members. His ministry’s annual revival MegaFest draws over 100,000 people. 

5) Billy Graham – Net worth: $25 Million (United States) 

He is a southern Baptist, who earned celebrity status when his sermons were broadcast on radio and TV stations all over the United States. He established the Billy Graham Evangelist Association in 1950.

Today Billy lives in the mountains of North Carolina where he harks back to his walks alone on a little path above the house that he took in earlier days when he conversed with God. Brought by advancing age and health issues, he spends most of his time reading the Scripture, meditating, praying and looking forward to the day he is reunited with his wife Ruth in Heaven.

4) Creflo Dollar  – Net worth: $27 Million (United States)

This American televangelist, pastor is also a Word of Faith teacher, who established the non-denominational World Changers Church International. He has developed a multimillion dollar ministry on the message “It is the will of God for you to prosper in every way.”  

3) Benny Hinn – Net worth: $42 Million (United States) 

This Israeli-American televangelist produces wealth through his ministry and evangelical program. He is famous for his regular miracle healing crusades held in large stadiums in major cities and broadcasted on TV.

2) Chris Oyakhilome – Net worth: $50 Million (Nigeria) 

Chris Oyakhilome’s church Christ Embassy has more than 40,000 members; several of whom are successful entrepreneurs and politicians. His diversified interests include magazines, newspapers, a TV station, a record label, hotels, satellite TV and real estate. 

1) David Oyedepo  – Net worth: $150 Million (Nigeria) 

Bishop David Oyedepo is the richest pastor in Nigeria and the world, who established the Living Faith World Outreach Ministry.  Since its foundation in 1981, it has grown to become one of Africa’s largest congregations. He hosts three services every Sunday in The Faith Tabernacle. This affluent pastor owns private jets and homes in the US and the UK.

How did Jesus act in response to these types of overseers, “if” they could be found with a two-faced ministry?

The Lord mourns over the rich because they discover their consolation in the abundance of goods  "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation."  (Luke 6:24) Abandonment to the providence of the Father in heaven frees us from anxiety about tomorrow." (Matthew 6;25-34)

Jesus instructs His disciples to prefer Him to everything and everyone, and charges them to "give up all that they have" for His sake and that of the Gospel. Shortly before His passion He presented them the example of the poor widow of Jerusalem who, out of her paucity, gave all that she had to live on. "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel 9 will save it." (Mark 8:35) "In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:33)

The teaching of detachment from wealth is compulsory for entrance into the Kingdom of heaven. (Luke 21:14)  For those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood."

All Christ's faithful are to "direct their affections rightly, lest they be encumbered in their pursuit of perfect charity by the use of worldly things and by an adherence to riches which is opposing the spirit of evangelical poverty.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3) The Beatitudes uncover an order of happiness and grace, of beauty and peace. Jesus celebrates the joy of the poor, to whom the Kingdom already fits in.

And raising his eyes toward his disciples he said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours. (Luke 6:20) 

The Word speaks of voluntary humility as "poverty in spirit"; the Apostle gives an example of God's poverty when he says: For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake he became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich. (2 Corinthian 8:9) 

References:

1. Catechism of the Catholic Church, http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2a0.htm#2544 
2. http://www.richestlifestyle.com/top-10-richest-pastors-in-the-world/, Top 10 Richest Pastors in the World 2014