Balancing Faith And Wealth: 7 Habits Keeping Christians Poor

Religion is deeply rooted in Nigerian culture, shaping people’s mindset, decisions, and financial habits.

While faith can be a source of hope, discipline, and guidance, misinterpretation and blind dependence on religious doctrines often discourage hard work, risk-taking, and financial literacy.

Today there are a handful of pastors that include financial literacy in their doctrines but Many Nigerians are still conditioned to “pray their way to wealth” instead of learning, working, and building financial success.

Some use faith as an excuse for laziness, believing that wealth will come purely through divine intervention. Meanwhile, some religious leaders thrive, collecting tithes, offerings, and “seeds of faith” from followers who remain financially stagnant.

Today, we explore how religion influences wealth in Nigeria and how to balance faith with practical financial action:

1. The “Miracle Mentality” & Expecting Wealth Without Work

The belief that financial success comes through miracles or prophecies, rather than through skill-building, or smart investments.

         Churches are filled with people praying for financial breakthroughs, yet they refuse to develop the skills or take the risks that create wealth.

Some even believe that tithing alone will make them rich, forgetting that even religious leaders invest, own businesses, and diversify their income .

2. Blind Giving & Exploitation by Religious Leaders

Many religious institutions preach excessive giving but fail to teach financial literacy.

People give their last kobo, hoping for divine multiplication, yet remain broke while religious leaders build wealth using their tithes as investment capital.

The same pastors who tell followers to “sow seeds”, own schools, real estate, and businesses—yet their followers cannot afford basic needs.

3. Over-Spiritualization & Avoiding Practical Financial Planning

Some Nigerians refuse to take financial risks or seek financial education because they believe “God will provide” without their effort.

           Instead of investing, saving, or budgeting, they wait for divine intervention, while making poor financial decisions alon the way.

Many reject opportunities in business, real estate, or investments, saying “If it’s God’s will, I will prosper”, while others who take action succeed.

4. Avoiding Hard & Smart Work

         Instead of learning high-income skills, starting businesses, or taking on challenges, many prefer only to attend prayer vigils, fast, and “wait on the Lord” for financial miracles.

Religion should inspire discipline and work ethic, but in Nigeria, it is often used as an excuse for laziness and procrastination.

5. Spending Everything on Religious Donations with no Room for Investments

Some people give away everything in church in hopes of getting millions back but have zero investments, zero savings, and no emergency funds.

         Instead of buying land, learning a skill, or starting a business, many spend their only money on religious events, donations, and anointing oils.

6. Lack of Financial Literacy & Money Management

There are still religious teachings that focus on faith and giving but fail to teach financial intelligence, wealth-building, and investment strategies.

People don’t know how to budget, invest, or multiply their income, so they stay in financial struggles, praying for miracles that may never come.

7. Delayed Action & Lost Opportunities

While some people are praying for open doors, others are taking action and creating opportunities.

Those who wait for supernatural money waste years, while those who learn, invest, and work smart make money.

Faith without action leads to stagnation, not success.

Want To Know How To Balance Faith & Financial Action?

1. Understand That Faith & Wealth Are Not Opposites

     Having money does not mean you are ungodly—it means you are responsible.

Many religious figures in history were wealthy—they used money to help others, build communities, and fund projects.

Instead of seeing money as evil, see it as a tool for impact.

2. Pray, But Also Plan & Work

     Prayer is not a financial strategy—use it for guidance, but take action.

Instead of just praying for money, pray for wisdom to manage and multiply it.

After praying, get skills, learn business, and take financial risks.

3. Give, But Also Invest

       Tithing and giving are important, but they should not replace saving and investing.

Before you sow all your money, ask yourself: “Do I have investments? Do I have emergency savings?”

Even the most generous givers have financial plans—do the same.

4. Learn Financial Literacy & Teach Others

      Study money management, investment strategies, and entrepreneurship.

Teach your family and community the importance of financial independence instead of total dependence on religious institutions.

Use faith as a motivation to create wealth, not as an excuse to remain poor.

5. Take Action: Faith Without Work Is Dead

      Stop waiting for miracles—start working towards your goals.

Trust in God, but also trust in the financial principles He created—hard work, wisdom, and smart decision-making. Faith & Financial Intelligence Must Work Together!

        Religion should inspire wealth creation, not poverty and laziness. While faith provides hope, discipline, and moral guidance, financial success requires action, strategy, and intelligence.

Stop praying for financial breakthroughs without working for them.

Stop giving everything away without building your financial foundation.

 Balance faith with practical action—because poverty is not spirituality, and wealth is not a sin.

Feel free to leave your questions in the comments, we'd love to answer any questions you have.. See you Soon!🥰