₦airaland Forum

Paying January Salary to Pastors

Some friends have asked me if it is right to give their entire January salary to their pastor or priest in the name of what is now called "first fruit offering."

Well, in the first place the question should not be about the rightness or wrongness of it, rather the question should be: WHY do you give your January salary to your pastor or to the church? The answer to this "why" question will answer the question if it is right or wrong.

As a priest for some years now, I have encountered people who come to give their entire January salary or first salary in a new job to priests or pastors. I have also encountered priests who do not accept the money once they are aware that it is the person's entire salary; they bless it and return it.

To make the whole thing much more dramatic, I know of some of those whose offerings were blessed and returned that later took the same money to another pastor of another church that will accept it (even if they don't attend the church), so as to get the fulfilment of having sown seed.

Funny right?

I took a study of some of our Christians paying tithes and especially those paying January salary as first fruit even to the detriment of their children's school fees, here is what I discovered that runs in almost all of them: They mistake fear for faith.

Dear friends, there is a thin line between fear and faith. A lot of what is propelling these people and indeed a large majority of us is not really faith as we may think, but fear.

Faith and fear are both very powerful tools. But they are never the same. In fact, they do not exist in one person at the same time. Once there is fear, there is no faith. Once there is faith, there is no fear.

This is why St Paul will tell Timothy that "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of virtue, and of love, and of self-restraint," (2 Timothy 1:7).
Fear is powerful because it is fueled by the whole notion of reward and punishment. The devil uses it a lot. It is a promise of, if you do so and so, you will get a reward of so and so, or a punishment of so and so. Unfortunately, this is how we teach in churches today. So, a lot of what we do as Christians are tied to fear, not faith.
It is easier to command compliance once you ignites the person's fear. It is more difficult with faith because faith comes from God himself. Faith is a gift.

Do you know that the scribes and Pharisees in their bid to keep the ten commandments faithfully, had to explicitly itemized and break down the commandments until it was multiplied into 613? They were so afraid of breaking the commandments that they even became imprisoned by it.

When Christ came, he brought down their 613 commands into love of God and neighbour. This is simply to communicate one thing, that we can't keep God's precepts by fear. Fear is enslaving while faith is liberating. (Romans 8:15).
But today, some of our church ministers prefer their members to remain caged. How can someone tell you about her problems, the first thing a minister will ask is the last time the person paid her tithe or first fruit offering. How does being sick translates to not paying tithe?
The truth is, the reason most Christians give their January salary to pastors even to the detriment of their children's school fees is generally tied to fear. They feel that if they don't, their business or health will not go well. Or if they do, there will be more blessings.

This is why even if someone is dying, they will rather pay tithe than help the person. They will quote Malachi 3:10, Proverbs 3:9, Leviticus 23:10, Exodus 23:19, and forget that strictly speaking those laws no longer bind Christians. They forget too that every first born child is suppose to be given to God as first fruit to serve in the temple, if we are to follow those laws strictly. They forget that a farmer of those days harvesting his first produce is not to be equated with a worker of today donating his entire salary.
This is why churches are opening every day and if you oppose the payment of tithe or first fruit, they will come for your head and quote how it works for them. Yet, the richest man in Africa does not pay tithe and he is building a refinery. If the condition for God to bless you this year is that you must give your entire January Salary to your pastor, then it is better to be an atheist.
Friends, the Lord is not putting pressure on any of us. He is not standing somewhere taking record of your tithes or January salaries before he blesses you. Strictly speaking, he does not need them. Your pastor does. And your pastor is not God. What God need is your heart of purity and love.

Being generous from the heart towards God's work and God's ministers is not the same as being compel to be paying certain amount of money every month or year such that your blessings or curse is tied to it. The former is faith, the latter is fear. Learn the difference.

By Fr Kelvin Ugwu MSP

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2620036038112768&id=2149201088529601

kayprinz:
im a student i have been looking for an legit online biz i can do to sustain myself...scammers stay off

pm me let talk on WhatsApp or drop ur numb...

daben1:
I heard they'll start in january

OK bro.

daben1:
Good evening, please has anybody submitted his/her CV at these agencies(NUC, OGFZA, SEC)?
I need your response please

are the currently accepting CVs?

Discipline
The moon does not know that we are counting its appearances and grouping it into what we call months. The
sun does not know that we are keeping records of its rising and setting and putting it into days and weeks and
years.
The days of the week, months, and years were all man made. The 12 months that make up one year as we have
it, would have been 14 or even 10. The 7 days that make up a week, would have been 12 or even 5. While some
of us are still celebrating our crossing over into a new year, the Chinese are yet to have their new year.
Everything is largely our mindsets.
Sit down and think deeply,
On the first of this new year, the sun did not change its colour and brightness, it still maintained how we knew it
last year; it was not even aware that we were throwing 'knockouts' or 'fireworks' to celebrate the time and date
we agreed as our new year.
During the time of rain, it is not merely our prayers and fasting that made it to rain, for if our prayers and fasting
can make rain fall whenever we wish, we would have been doing it at the peak of the dry season when we
desperately needed rain.
So In truth, the basics that came our way last year: the sun, the rain, the night and day, the air, etc, are still with
us this year. Nothing really has changed. The only thing that can change is our mindsets and how we are able to
make good use of those basics. That is what makes a new year different from an old one.
2020 won't be great because someone in your church during the vigil made you a "prophecy" and said all sorts
of nice things that made you to shout "Amen" in a way that made you lost your voice.
If you want to achieve all you desire this year, give yours a gift. The best gift you can give yourself is the gift of
discipline. This is because as long as you will be alive this year, there will always be one or two issues or
problems that you will be confronting.
Discipline is what you will need if you want to solve those issues. Without discipline, this year won't be different
from the previous, in fact, it can become worst. With only some discipline you can solve only some problems.
With total discipline you can solve all problems.
It is discipline that will give you focus and give your life a clear direction.
It is financial discipline that will make you spend on what you truly need and also do some savings.
It is moral discipline that will make you stand by one man or one woman despite the many tempting features
you keep seeing in others.
It is spiritual discipline that will make you maintain your prayer life despite all the noise and distractions around.
It is discipline that will make you set targets for yourself and meet it. And indeed, when you come in contact
with a man and a woman of discipline, right from the entrance of their house, you will feel it.
Remain blessed!

RaRaBa

She refused all those that came to marry her because she wants a man from abroad or one who is based in
Abuja and has a car. This is her choice!
Men have been coming for her, but she is not interested because they are neither from abroad nor from Abuja.
No sign that they even have a car.
Finally, it is Christmas time and men from "abroad" and "Abuja" usually will come to the village looking for who
to marry. "This year will be my year," she assured herself. So, she got herself ready for Abuja men to arrive.
When rumor had it that a certain Charles popularly known as Charlo is in town and has been having an eye on
her, she asked.
"Where is he based?"
They said Abuja.
She smiled deeply. The time has come, she whispered to her small head. But one more thing is lacking.
"Does he have a Car?" She asked.
"We saw him with a car", they answered.
At that moment, she grew butterflies in her tummy. She became head over heels in love for Charles.
Swiftly she is all over Charlo. As she looked at him with smiles, her mind kept saying, "It is time to leave this
godforsaken village. . . I have had enough from this village men. Thank God for my Charly."
Luckily for her, Charlo is not staying for the new year celebrations. He told her he has some business he must
attend to. That was the best news for her. They hurried the traditional requirements and paid the dowry. The
next day, the two lovers are driving to their Abuja in the Toyota Corolla Charlo came with.
When they got to gwagwalada, he told her, "this is gwagwalada where the university of Abuja is located." After
looking round for a while, she asked, "is this area still part of Abuja because it looks so dry?" He smiled and
answered, this is part of Abuja. We will get to the city soon.
The double lane express drive from airport junction to the city was so amazing. The street lights, the
smoothness of the road, the type of cars on the road, she was just so excited.
At citing the city gate, she recognized it. She had seen it in calendars. Close to it is the National stadium. She
was so happy.
Charlo drove her around the Central business district of Abuja. She saw the central mosque built in 1984 with
gold plated dome and four minarets. Then the Ecumenical center with its magnificent tall tower cross that was
opened in 2005. The breath taking glass CBN and NNPC towers. The eagle square she has always imagined.
Charlo pointed Transcorp hotel to her and the yet to be "renovated" National assembly. And she is like, "baby,
Abuja is so beautiful. . .o mara mma".
Then they drove pass Louis Edet house - the police headquarters, and from there decided to pass through
Asokoro. The houses were simply amazing. In her heart she was like "so my husband is owing one of these big
houses. Wow, it is really good to be patient. When God remembers you, he will give you beyond your
imagination."
In no time, they were in A.Y.A, a popular junction that took its name from a filling station then. Then she asked,
"baby have we not gotten to our house?" Charlo looked at her and smile, "baby calm down, we will be there
soon."
They drove pass Mogadishu cantonment, then kugbo, where furniture are sold. The surroundings are already
changing and she is like, "baby, where are we going?" But Charlo did not say anything.
Then, they drove pass Nyanya. She saw crowd. She was asking herself "are we still in Abuja?" But he kept
driving. She saw bikes, Keke, people selling on the street. "Pure water" sachets everywhere. Finally, he took a
bend. The crowd here were just enormous. The place is so rowdy, smelly gutters. He drove into a small
pathway. Her face changed.
He stopped the car and stepped out. But she thought the journey will soon continue until he said, "baby bring
your bags down, we are home."
Then she looked at where is called home. A room with no space. Mattress on the ground, and other properties.
The Kitchen is at the verandah. Toilet and bathroom outside with so many other tenants. Clothes spread on the
lines. Children crying, others defecating. Generator noise blasting.
Then she called him a name he has never called him all through the journey,
"Charles!"
He turned
"Where are we?" She asked in a serious tune.
"We are home", replied Charlo.
"I mean where, is here Abuja?" She was getting confused.
"Well, here is Mararaba, it is sharing boundaries with Abuja."
"Raraba what?" She stammered.
"Ma-Ra-Ra-Ba", he tried pronouncing it distinctively.
At that point, Charlo's friend came. He started checking if the car he gave Charlo was kept in a good condition.
Charlo was faithful to their agreement.

Written by Rev. Father Kelvin Ugwu

Inteltower:
thanks for the enlightenment sir really appreciate

Good bless u.

ojuu4u:
All these Epistles are just to defend undefendable, Almighty God himself instructed us to worship him on Saturday *sabbart* and not Sunday, Jesus himself said it clearly that he came to strengthen laws he met and not to abolish/criticize them...
too know is what is causing a lot of confusion in body of Christ today that's why some are even saying their followers shouldn't celebrate Christmas

wetin this one de talk sef. you better learn the truth of Christ. Jesus Started the breaking of bread on Sunday and not Saturday, the disciples followed his steps while Jesus Left and even now its still done by his Apostles...Hallelujah

Why We Worship On Sundays And Not Saturdays

As you read this, I would like you to bear this in mind. The reason you see us clarifying and involving ourselves
in some of these topics on social Media is not because we are jobless or want to show off, but just so that at
least one or two persons who genuinely want to know the truth could get the opportunity of hearing another
side that will aid him or her in making an informed decision.
In the Old Testament, we read in Exodus 20:8-10 concerning the Sabbath. It says:
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day
is a Sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male
or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you,"
The question now is, how come it was shifted from what we now call Saturday to what we now called Sunday?
There are those who are ready to tell you that the reason for the shift is because the Catholic Church through
Emperor Constantine decided to make Sunday the day of worship following the pagan feast they call the feast
of the Sun-god. They will also tell you that worshipping on Sunday is not biblical, and as such when you worship
on Sunday, you worship the pagan god.
hmmmm! Let's take a deep breath! I am making this post so that you can always keep it as reference or to
share it with people ready to learn.
Prior to the death and resurrection of Christ. The first day of the week which we now call Sundays does not
have much significance until we read in Matthew 28:1 concerning Mary Magdalene.
"Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, Mary Magdalene and the
other Mary came to look at the grave."
Then, we were told in all the gospels that Christ rose from the dead on that FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK.(Mark 16:
9).
Gradually, the very fact that the resurrection took place that first day of the week, it soon became something
very significant for the early Christians. The resurrection was and it is still a big deal, something no one has ever
done. And truly, what sets Christians apart from others is simply their believe in the resurrection of Christ.
Without it, they have nothing to talk about.
To make it even more dramatic, in Luke 24:14-14 Jesus appeared to two disciples on their way to Emmaus and
broke bread with them. That day was the first day of the week, on a Sunday.
As if that is not enough, the disciples started gathering together and Jesus will appear to them on the first day
of the week.
John 20:19 says,
"So when it was evening on that day, THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, and when the doors were shut where the
disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with
you.""
On that visit of Christ as recorded in John 20:19, do you know that Thomas was not with the disciples on that
day? And when he came back and was told, he refused to believe.
Here is the most astonishing part. Jesus had to wait for the next week, the first day of the week, before he
appeared to show himself to Thomas. Why? Something for us to reflect on. Read for yourself.
John 20: 26
"A WEEK LATER his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were
locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”"
For some of you who are interested in research, please find time and google "The Didache" also known as "The
Lord's Teaching Through the Twelve Apostles to the Nation". Take your time and read it. It was written in the
first century and contains an account of how the first Christians saw themselves, what they did during their
meetings, the day of the week they were meeting, and what they taught. This will open your eyes to how the
early Christians worshipped. The documents is an archeological fact for those that want to doubt its
authenticity.
What brought me to mentioning "The Didache" is to show you that though the early disciples still tried keeping
the Sabbath, but they still gathered on the first day of the week for the breaking of bread. Even the book of Act
20:7 recorded it.
At some point, St Paul even gave us a clear hint in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 that the first day of the week was the
day they usually gather to pray.
Hear Paul as he writes to the Corinthians:
"Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the
FIRST DAY OF EVERY WEEK each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections
be made when I come."
Mark the words: . . . OF EVERY WEEK.
It did not take long, this first day of the week was now referred to as "The day of the Lord" by the early
disciples. You can check Revelation 1: 10. Even the Didache I told you about, talked about it.
Do I need to remind you all the importance of the resurrection? Formerly it was just an ordinary first day of the
week, but Christ turned it to an Easter. As such, every Sunday became a "small Easter", such that it naturally
took over Saturday.
Now, the ogakpatakpata of them all is the Pentecost day. Pentecost is an agricultural feast of the Jews.
Pentecost means 50. Today when the word Pentecost is mentioned, our mind will go quickly to the Holy Spirit.
That is not what Pentecost meant initially.
Why did God decided to send the holy Spirit on the apostles on the Pentecost day, a day where farmers were
supposed to gather in accordance to the Jewish law of Leviticus 23:15-22? To Make it even more shocking,
that day was on a Sunday. All Jewish Pentecosts were celebrated on the first day of the week (Sunday). Make
the calculation yourself and you will see.
Now here is the summary: Christ rose on the first day of the week. God sent the Holy Spirit on the apostles in
which more than 3000 souls were converted, and it was on the first day of the week. Two very important days
for all Christians: The birth of the church on Pentecost and the salvation of the world on the day he rose. Both
happened on Sundays.
Can you now see why it did not take long for the Sabbath to start losing its significance on the early Christians
because they have seen something bigger than the Sabbath. They saw Christ himself, the Holy Trinity. They were
no longer held bound by the law. They abandoned some of the practices of the Jews whom do not even believe
that Jesus is the saviour not to talk of resurrection from the dead. This is why in the NT, even tithe was not
binding and was not talked about among the early Christians.
Friends, to say that it was Constantine that made us to start worshipping on Sundays will amount to a show of
ignorance of the scriptures and undermining the power of the resurrection and even worst still, giving
Constantine the powers that he does not posses.
And if they say Sunday is a day of worship of the pagan Sun-god and that the meaning of Sunday came from
the Sun-god, then it is important we remind ourselves that the Jews as at that time of Jesus do not have names
for the days of the week as we do today. This is why you will often hear them say, the first day of the week, the
sixth day, the seventh Etc. This is exactly what played out during the creation story.
Even the word Sabbath is simply a description. Sabbath is from the Hebrew "shabbat" meaning "to rest." This is
why even when the bible mentioned 7th day, it will still use the word Sabbath to describe it as the day of rest.
"Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the Lord your God." Exodus
20:8.
The days of the week as we have today were all adopted. They are all pagan. Monday is named after the god of
the moon. Thursday is for the Norse god known in Modern English as Thor. Friday is named after the Anglo-
Saxon goddess Fríge. Saturday is named after the Roman god Saturn.
There is this impression from some Pentecostals Christians of today that once anything has a pagan origin it is
evil and it is impossible for it to be 'Christianized.' This is the origin of the fight concerning the celebration of
Christmas here on social media.
Well, unfortunately, many things came from the pagans, including the papyrus that was used to write the bible in
those days. The tradition of offering visitors kolanut in Igbo culture is largely pagan. Even Baptism as we know it
today as pouring of water or immersion in rivers did not start with Christians.
What these so called "highly spiritual" Pentecostals fail to see is that the christian faith must be planted in a
culture for it to take root. Even St Paul while preaching to the Areopagus in Act 17:16-34 had to use what the
Athens have as an altar to the "unknown god", to plant the message of the living and known God into them.
Friends, the point is, once the Christian faith is planted in any culture, it uproots the bad in it and retains the
good. This is why once you mention "Sunday" we think about the day of worship in church and not sun-god.
This is why 25th December may not be the day Christ was born, but it has taken a Christian dimension pushing
aside whatever it was known with before. This is why the cross that was seen as a symbol of shame, once it is
mentioned today, it is seen as a symbol of liberation and of glory.


Fr Kelvin Ugwu MSP

wirinet:
You can go to motherless babies home and adopt abandoned children.
Better still, you can build a charity home for ladies to drop babies they gave birth to but don't want.

thanks...happy new yr. I also urge u to do the same if u are capable.

wirinet:
Then volunteer to take all babies born as a result of rape, if the mothers don't want them. That way I will know you care about humanity that religious rightness.

that's my utmost goal on this earth. not just to take care of babies but everyone. Do u have anywhere where I can volunteer? it will be my joy to do so.

wirinet:
So a woman should be forced to give birth and nurture the child of a rapist?

If she does, it's still you religious hypocrites that will call the child bastard and will refuse to marry the lady or allow any of your family to marry her, because she is not a virgin.

u can say whatever u want to say. on no account must abortion be encouraged... it is murder.

the bible says by their fruit you shall know them.

just imagine if the so called pastors who are ritualist were not caught they would have become big pastors in 10 yrs to come with large numbers of followers who can die for them, preaching whatever they like. Just in the last 3 months they caught more than 5 ritualist pastors who would have become popular and own private jets if they were not caught.

Though shall not kill. the unborn babies, the bible says even the numbers of hairs on their head is known by God. Abortion is wrong and should never be encouraged in all ramifications.

You have it. BY THEIR FRUIT YOU SHALL KNOW THEM.

czarina:
Did we discover the cure for Ebola?

yes we cured ourselves with the cure discovered in Nigeria. Even when the whites stood against the cure discovered. two Nigerians also discovered the cure for HIV few yrs back but these white people still killed it from being publicized and used.

beresponsible:
He should come and gene-edit our babies to be HIV resistant. What's wrong with that? Arresting him is more proof that this HIV is a bio weapon. And he just exposed the antidote.

I am telling u, there is cure for HIV. That was how they condemned Naija discovered cure for Ebola. If not that naija insisted that they must use the cure discovered, Ebola would have finished Africans by now. They know what they are doing.

AwkaetitiBabe:
OK. Your husband is simply lashing out. Allow him pick his clothes, don't seek to control him. If he asks for your input, good and fine. You probably tabbed his looks, and he retaliated with beating.

madam u damaged ur husband's ego in front of his kids so he had to beat u in the presence of those kids, so that they will know that he is in charge of the house. u telling him to go and change before you guys can go out made him look like a kid in the presence of his kids, that was why he angrily asked u to keep quiet. I believe u have been doing this for long and the anger in him has built up, then u now asked him to snap, stop belittling ur husband in the presence of his kids and u will b fine. Let him b and if u must tell him something of such that requires him to take actions, do that in the absence of the kids, except what u want him to do doesn't warrant that. I have checked comment to see if anyone said what the lady I quoted said, but discovered that no one saw the main issue. what she said is exactly what I wanted to type but I said let me check to see if anyone has said what is in mind. Mrsprissy. If I am ur husband I wouldn't have hit u but will tell u what u are doing wrong that I don't like, so u can desist from it. ur husband hasn't done this before, he probably didn't tell u what u are doing wrong cos he doesn't like arguments. ur husband is a good man. love him and show him more love and respect and u will b surprise how peaceful the house will b and filled with happiness.

jagaban002:
God just answer ur prayer , u going into new year without gf stress u going to see this 2020 gonna be a greater year bros be happy and move on ASAP . The babe is fucking another guy look at her response ( should I be lying for u ) bros waka jeje

didn't u read where he said he verified her virginity. the girl is not sexing anything. if d guy cannot get married to her before having sex, he should leave her alone.

micflo28:
Please have anyone ever been helped by a senator to secure a job without knowing him

very good question.

that security man that refused to apologize, give him query if he disobeys you again, sack him. for those teachers who diverts school fees of the school. call all of them and have a meeting with them and your mum. Ask them to refund the money diverted or pay with it from their salary. they will plead to pay with their salary so all you need do is deduct like #5,000 or 10k from their salary until the money is cleared. Then give them query and if they commit any of such offense again, sack them. pls I will like to mail you, can I ? Jokerman

Whiterose21:
Really, and the lady is seeking for employment in Ubec?

yah

Whiterose21:
No. Why did you ask?

because of a lady I saw in nass

Whiterose21:
Compliment of the season, please do you know if, UBEC is collecting cv? Thanks in anticipation for your response.

are u from Enugu state?

nero2face:
u didn't include Laliga record...keep cutting corners

is that one a record? if Ronaldo had started his career from Madrid and remained in Madrid up till now, do you think messi can smell his boot? CR7 is what they call a Legend...not just d best.

obamartins:
Yes! And I have replied with the outline we will be treating.

I wrote a book but formatting it to kindle format, is the problem. I have tried formating and converting it severely but each time I upload it online and preview it, it will just scatter.

iamdepressed:
ekiti state

ohh sorry too far. don't worry, stay strong. things will get better by God's grace.

iamdepressed:
I don't have what to eat tomorrow with my family as well, married with four kids. hubby isn't working at the moment. can give you my direct line for confirmation. was referred here by a friend

na wa o. God pls make me rich so I can put smiles on peoples face. pls someone should help her pls. are u in abuja? I can get you some foodstuffs.

otuekong1:
Those ones stationed at the borders,seaports,airports and procurement department always live big in NCS

abi na audio money

Molayan:
They are poorly paid compare to other paramilitary

I don de fear o. everyone is saying that they are poorly paid and me I am not ready to collect any any illegitimate money. So why is everyone hyping custom job over others of its category. I think say their salary cross like 200k

Ahmed4002:
Don't take your mind off it.
Use this holiday period to prepare for it.
Everything is set and even questions for the next phase of the recruitment.


If you are familiar how UMTE examination are sets. Then study that.


All the best.

pls do you know custom graduate salary and allowances if any?