OPEN HEAVENS FOR 14TH JUNE 2026

TOPIC: PROSPERITY ≠ GODLINESS

MEMORISE:

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. — 1 Timothy 6:17

READ: Luke 12:16-21 (KJV)

16. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

17. And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

18. And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

19. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

20. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

21. So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

MESSAGE:

Many years ago, a fellow believer said he wanted to change to another religion because he had observed that many of those who practise this other religion are very rich. I quickly made him realise that being wealthy is not a function of religion, nor is it an indication of godliness.

Genesis 4:16-17 tells us that Cain built a city after he departed from the presence of the Lord. Building a city is a mighty feat; however, Cain was no longer dwelling in God’s presence when he built that city.

Don’t be deceived into thinking that every green and flourishing branch is connected to the root, as some branches will remain green and seemingly healthy for a while even after they have been cut from the tree. Eventually, however, they will turn yellow and wither away.

It is true that God blesses His children with the power to make wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18); however, wealth in itself should never be used as a measure of godliness.

God measures our godliness by our fruit (Matthew 7:16). When His children bear the right fruit, He blesses them, and one of the signs of His blessing is wealth, as seen in the life of Abraham, who was rich in cattle, silver, and gold (Genesis 13:2). Isaac was also a godly and prosperous person. The Bible says in Genesis 26:12-14 that he waxed richer and richer until he became exceedingly great and prosperous.

God wants you to be wealthy because He loves blessing His children with good gifts (Matthew 7:11). However, He doesn’t want you to measure your life by the abundance or scarcity of your material possessions (Luke 12:15). Money is a tool, and when God entrusts you with it, He wants you to be faithful with it. He wants you to be rich towards Him and use the treasures He has given you to bring glory to Him.

In today’s Bible reading, the rich fool didn’t understand that he was meant to be a good steward of his wealth. His life was cut short because he was not rich towards God and didn’t acknowledge Him as his source; rather, he decided to lay up treasures for himself.

Beloved, God places more value on your fellowship with Him and the state of your heart (1 Peter 3:4) than your material possessions or the amount of money in your bank account. Let your focus be on cultivating true prosperity, which is the prosperity of your soul (3 John 2), and not material things.

KEY POINT:

Material wealth is not a measure of godliness.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

Psalms 50-55

HYMN 58: MY HOPE IS BUILT ON NOTHING ELSE

1. My hope is built on nothing less
   Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
   I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
   But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Chorus:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

2. When darkness veils His lovely face,
   I rest on His unchanging grace;
   In every high and stormy gale,
   My anchor holds within the veil.

3. His oath, His covenant, His blood,
   Support me in the whelming flood;
   When all around my soul gives way,
   He then is all my hope and stay.

4. When He shall come with trumpet sound,
   O may I then in Him be found;
   Dressed in His righteousness alone,
   Faultless to stand before the throne.

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About RCCG and Open Heavens

The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) is a global Pentecostal denomination founded in 1952 by Reverend Josiah Akindayomi and now led by Pastor E. A. Adeboye as General Overseer. Headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, RCCG has spread to over 200 countries with millions of worshippers worldwide.

Open Heavens is the daily devotional of RCCG, written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye. First published in 2003, it has become one of the most widely read daily devotionals in the world. Each edition includes a memory verse, Bible reading, message, prayer point, and hymn. The devotional is known for its practical, Bible-based teachings that address everyday Christian living, spiritual warfare, and faith.

The devotional for 14th June 2026 corrects the dangerous error of equating material wealth with godliness, while affirming that wealth can be a blessing from God when properly stewarded.

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BRIEF COMMENTARY

Based on Open Heavens 14th June 2026 – “Prosperity ≠ Godliness”

The Deception: Wealth as a Measure of Godliness

In today’s devotional, Pastor Adeboye addresses a common deception that has led many believers astray. He opens with a striking anecdote: a fellow believer wanted to change to another religion because he observed that many who practise that other religion are very rich. Pastor Adeboye corrected him immediately, making him realise that being wealthy is not a function of religion, nor is it an indication of godliness.

The memory verse from 1 Timothy 6:17 corrects two dangerous errors. First, the error of thinking that wealth equals godliness. Second, the error of thinking that wealth is evil. Paul says the rich should not be “highminded” (arrogant, proud) nor trust in “uncertain riches” (money is unpredictable and temporary). Instead, they should trust in the living God who not only gives riches but gives them “to enjoy.”

Cain: Wealth Without God’s Presence

The devotional makes a devastating point from Genesis 4:16-17. Cain built a city after he departed from the presence of the Lord. Building a city is a mighty feat, yet Cain was no longer dwelling in God’s presence when he built it. Wealth and achievement are not proof of divine favour. Unbelievers become CEOs, billionaires, and world leaders. Their wealth does not mean God approves of their lifestyle or their religion.

The Cut Branch That Still Looks Green

Pastor Adeboye uses a powerful agricultural illustration. Don’t be deceived into thinking that every green and flourishing branch is connected to the root. Some branches will remain green and seemingly healthy for a while even after they have been cut from the tree. Eventually, however, they will turn yellow and wither away.

Do not envy the wealth of the wicked. Their prosperity is temporary. Their branch is cut. They may look flourishing today, but without the root of Christ, they will wither eternally.

The Biblical Balance: Wealth Can Be a Blessing

Pastor Adeboye is careful to affirm that God does bless His children with wealth. Abraham was rich in cattle, silver, and gold (Genesis 13:2). Isaac waxed richer and richer until he became exceedingly great and prosperous (Genesis 26:12-14). God wants you to be wealthy because He loves blessing His children with good gifts (Matthew 7:11).

If an earthly father delights in giving good gifts to his children, how much more does your heavenly Father? Wealth is not evil. Poverty is not a virtue. God is not glorified when His children are destitute while the wicked flourish.

But Wealth Is Not the Measure

God measures our godliness by our fruit (Matthew 7:16). The fruit of godliness includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23), as well as winning souls, humility, obedience, prayerfulness, generosity, and stewardship. Bank account balance, size of house or car, and accumulation of treasures are not the measure.

A man can have millions and be godly. A man can have millions and be wicked. A man can have nothing and be godly. A man can have nothing and be bitter. Wealth or poverty alone tells you nothing about a person’s relationship with God.

The Rich Fool: A Warning Against Wrong Priorities

The Bible reading from Luke 12 presents the Parable of the Rich Fool. A wealthy man’s land produced abundantly. He decided to tear down his barns and build bigger ones to store all his goods. He said to his soul, “Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” But God said to him, “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee.”

The rich fool didn’t understand that he was meant to be a good steward of his wealth. He was not rich toward God and didn’t acknowledge God as his source. He laid up treasures for himself. The tragedy is not that the rich fool had wealth. The tragedy is that his wealth had him. He did not own his possessions; his possessions owned him. And on the very night he declared his soul secure, God demanded it back.

True Prosperity: The Prosperity of the Soul

God places more value on your fellowship with Him and the state of your heart (1 Peter 3:4) than your material possessions or the amount of money in your bank account. Let your focus be on cultivating true prosperity, which is the prosperity of your soul (3 John 2), not material things.

A meek and quiet spirit, trusting God whether you have much or little, is precious to Him. A proud spirit, whether rich or poor, is not.

The Proper Place of Wealth in the Christian Life

Wealth is a tool, not a goal. It should be used to fund the gospel, help the poor, and bless others, not hoarded for selfish security or used to impress others. Wealth is also a test, not a trophy. When God entrusts you with it, He wants you to be faithful with it.

Finally, wealth is temporary, while the soul is eternal. Material wealth stays on earth when you die, can be lost in a day, and cannot satisfy deeply. Your soul goes to eternity, is everlasting, and finds rest only in God.

How to Be Rich Toward God

Check your heart’s posture. Ask yourself: Do I want wealth to serve God or to serve myself? Would I still love God if I lost everything?

Acknowledge God as your source. The rich fool never thanked God for the abundant harvest. He spoke only to himself. Every morning, declare: “The Lord is my provider. This wealth comes from Him and belongs to Him.”

Be rich toward God through generosity. Tithe faithfully, give offerings above the tithe, support the poor, widows, orphans, and missionaries, and build God’s kingdom, not your own empire.

Do not trust in riches. When the stock market crashes or a business fails, your peace should not crash with it. Your trust must be in the living God, not in uncertain riches.

Cultivate soul prosperity. Spend more time seeking God’s face than seeking money. Read Scripture. Pray. Worship. Fellowship. A prosperous soul will handle material prosperity without being destroyed.

Conclusion

The devotional closes by redirecting your focus from material things to the prosperity of your soul.

Key Point from the Devotional:

Material wealth is not a measure of godliness.

Prayer Point (implied from the message):

Father, help me to be rich toward You and to cultivate the prosperity of my soul above all else.

Action Steps

1. The wealth-godliness audit – examine your heart. Have you ever assumed a wealthy person must be godly or a poor person must be sinful? Confess these assumptions. Remember that fruit, not wealth, is the measure.

2. The rich fool reflection – read Luke 12:16-21 slowly. Ask: Am I building bigger barns for myself, or am I rich toward God? Where is my treasure—on earth or in heaven?

3. The soul prosperity plan – for the next 30 days, prioritise your soul’s health over your wallet’s size. Spend as much time in prayer and Scripture as you spend checking your finances.