It is just the center of January 2026, but debates have already resurfaced relating to first fruit choices in Nigerian church buildings, sparking calls from Christians for a deeper understanding of God’s phrase.
Many Nigerian ministers keep that the primary fruit providing is a divine mandate for prosperity, regularly invoking the account of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4:3–5 to argue that the observe originated with the primary household.
The aforementioned Bible passage says that two brothers, Cain and Abel, introduced separate choices earlier than God.
And the story goes that Cain delivered to God an providing of the fruit of the bottom, whereas Abel introduced of the firstborn of his flock and their fats parts. It’s recorded that God regarded with favor on Abel and his providing, however had no regard for Cain and his providing.
Bible commentators like Joseph Igoh of the Victorious Church of God Ministries, Lagos, argue that Cain’s providing was rejected as a result of he failed to offer his first fruits, having probably eaten them already as a substitute of honoring God together with his greatest.
“IN LEVITICUS 23:9–14, IT IS WIDELY UNDERSTOOD THAT GOD INSTITUTED THE FIRST FRUIT OFFERING. THE CENTRAL COMMAND TO THE ISRAELITES WAS TO BRING A SHEAF OF GRAIN—REPRESENTING THE FIRST OF THE HARVEST—TO THE PRIEST, WHO WOULD WAVE IT BEFORE THE LORD.”
“Many individuals, together with Christians, at all times marvel why God rejected Cain’s providing. The reply is just not far-fetched. Cain was depraved and evil. He didn’t regard the issues of God. He didn’t worry or respect God, too, together with his providing.
He had most certainly eaten what he was supposed to provide to God, and keep in mind that God can’t be mocked. Because of this God rejected his providing and honoured the one offered by Abel. It’s why I at all times advise Christians to pay their first-fruits providing, though it’s not fashionable recommendation that God’s kids take willingly,” Igoh mentioned.
In Leviticus 23:9–14, it’s broadly understood that God instituted the primary fruit providing. The central command to the Israelites was to deliver a sheaf of grain—representing the primary of the harvest—to the priest, who would wave it earlier than the Lord.
The Israelites have been later admonished in Leviticus 23:14 that no grain was to be harvested in any respect till the primary fruits providing was delivered to God.
Many preachers cite this biblical injunction as the premise for instructing congregants to supply their whole January wage to God as an act of religion quite than spending it.
A controversial media character, Daddy Freeze, has typically countered teachings on first fruit choices as they relate to Christian salaries. He even acknowledged that accumulating January salaries from Christians as ‘first fruit’ amounted to fraud ‘from the pits of hell’ and needs to be halted.
Freeze, who additionally advocates for Christians to cease paying tithes, acknowledged that the ‘first fruit’ is the Holy Spirit. “The primary fruit talked about in accordance with the New Testomony, in multiple occasion, is the Holy Spirit, not your January wage as your pastors are preaching. The disciples didn’t give first fruit however acquired the Holy Spirit as the primary fruit.
In 1 Corinthians 15:20, Jesus is known as the primary fruit of the grave. James 1:18 refers to the truth that Christians have been the primary fruit of all creations. First fruit has nothing with you giving your wage to fraudsters on the pulpit. It has all the pieces to do with those that consider in God,” Freeze argued.
Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Common Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and a proponent of the primary fruit providing, as soon as suggested Redeemer’s College graduates to provide their first fruit to God to make sure prosperity. Within the revered cleric’s evaluation, God rewards those that give to Him within the type of tithes and choices.
“To the graduating college students, I congratulate you very warmly. As you exit from the college, don’t permit the world and its lust to distract you to take the worry of God in you out; observe godliness.
Be a lover of God and his phrase, and keep in mind that all issues reply to prayer if rightly completed. God is the rewarder; give Him your first fruits, tithes, and choices, and nothing can cease your prosperity,” Adeboye suggested.
Recall that in 2025, the Christian Affiliation of Nigeria criticised Warri-based clergyman Jeremiah Fufeyin of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry for claiming that first fruit choices may wipe away sins, together with these dedicated by fraudsters. “Whenever you give your first fruit unto the Lord, it breaks protocols; it even cancels your sins.
When God sees that this man (pointing to a person within the congregation) is a fraudster known as 419, however due to the primary fruit, God mentioned when He was on the place the place the angels have been ascending and descending, He mentioned, I the Lord, God of Israel, God of Abraham, I’m absolutely behind you due to first fruit, that’s the product of first fruit,” the cleric taught.
The Director of Nationwide Points and Social Welfare of CAN, Abimbola Ayuba, who reacted to Fufeyin’s declare, mentioned, “CAN doesn’t affiliate with individuals of doubtful background who manipulate harmless Nigerians and fleece them of their hard-earned sources. God is just not fraudulent. He has extra treasures than anybody man. He has all the pieces underneath his management. He’s not a thief that shares booty with crooks.”
A Nigerian Christian, Amara Ugorji, instructed The Level that she not pays the primary fruit as a result of, as she put it, ‘my eyes are open.’ She, nevertheless, famous that Christians who nonetheless wish to give such choices shouldn’t be prevented from doing so.
“I used to provide my first fruit providing, however I at all times did so out of worry as a result of I didn’t need any hindrances in my enterprise or my life. Nonetheless, as debates relating to first fruits gained traction in Nigeria, I puzzled why my non-Chrstian pals continued to prosper regardless of not collaborating within the observe.
I then concluded that God wouldn’t hurt my enterprise or punish me, His daughter, for not giving 100% of my January earnings as a primary fruit providing. I felt that if God punished me, then He could be an unfair God. So, this 2026, I gained’t be paying a primary fruit providing, though I nonetheless give willingly to different causes in church,” Ugorji mentioned.
On his half, clergyman and present affairs analyst, Emeka Onwuachu, mentioned, “First fruit or no first fruit, the underside line is that Christians are enjoined to provide to the work of God.
If anybody has determined to not give first fruit to his or her church, that’s the particular person’s enterprise. That call is between the particular person and God. Some persons are at all times comfortable once they pay their first fruits providing.
It brings them pleasure. In my church, I don’t power anybody to pay first fruit choices. Why would I? I gained’t stand in the best way of what God’s kids love and wish to do for his or her Heavenly Father in 2026.”