Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo has stirred conversations after sharing his views on the impact of income differences in marriage during a sermon on the “5 Pillars That Keep Your Marriage From Crashing.”
Addressing married and intending couples, the pastor cautioned against allowing financial success to become a source of conflict in the home.
According to him: “When women earn more, the marriage is in d@nger. Don’t confuse the fact that you live in America to mean you must have an American marriage. You are a kingdom citizen.”
He said many women have not been adequately taught what it means to be a wife, adding that studies suggest marriages where wives earn more than their husbands may face greater challenges.
He further stated: “Most women are wired to believe that they are receivers. The moment she starts to earn more and feels this guy can’t do anything major for me, resentment begins to build.”
Pastor Okonkwo stressed that in a kingdom marriage, financial contribution should not determine respect or leadership.
In his words:“As a lady, you must understand that in the kingdom, your number one role is as a helper.” The pastor said many men have told him they are reluctant to marry women who earn more than they do because they fear it could affect respect in the relationship. In his words: “Men tell me all the time, ‘We can never marry women that earn more than us. She’ll be rude, you can’t advise her, she’ll have an attitude.’”
He also advised women who support husbands going through financial difficulties to do so without resentment. “If you ever for any reason marry a man that needs help, you can’t help with an attitude. You can’t help and feel like you are suffering. That is what you are created to do”
