Pastor Kiuna: Lack of money is the root of all evil

Living in Financial Distinction. It is realistic and practical. Kiuna is brave enough to admit, like Barack Obama in The Audacity of Hope, that money may not be the answer to all problems, but it sure makes life bearable. PHOTO | COURTESY

What you need to know:

  • Reading the book, it is hard to ignore Allan Kiuna as he tiptoes around one of the most thorny issues of modern day religion; the issue of prosperity gospel.
  • And since he is one of the leading religious proponents of this movement in Kenya, Allan Kiuna tiptoeing is worse because he ends up knocking over buckets and chairs and cups that he creates a much louder commotion than he might have intended.

Title:Living in Financial Distinction

Author: Bishop Allan Kiuna

Year of Publication: 2016

Publisher: Jubilee Publisher

It is contradictory. It is practical. It is surprisingly clever. It is philosophical in an ancient kind of manner. And, for a book authored by a man of God, and peppered with biblical quotes, Living in Financial Distinction has a certain worldliness to it, curiously devoid of the usual lack of speed and staleness that most spiritual texts or texts by spiritual individuals are known for.

You should read it because Bishop Allan Kiuna attempts – at least in my reading – to convince his readers that Jesus must have been wrong, or some pastor misrepresented the scripture to them on the question of wealth.

Kiuna’s task from the start is to convince readers that the same God Jesus meant when he said “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God,” is the same God he writes about when he says that God wants all his children to live a rich, wealthy and abundant life.

The book is simple, direct and unpretentiously written. The imagery in the book is cathartically dramatic and in some instances, funny.  “All riches have wings. They are either flying away from you or flying towards you.”

SKIRTING THE ISSUE

In a tightly wound narrative that begins with Adam in the Old Testament then goes to celebrity actor Arnold Schwarzenegger in Mr Universe, then swings back to David as he faces Goliath and wins, before racing forward to Nikola Tesla and his unmatched scientific inventions like the Alternating Current, every page in the book is daringly exciting.

The central idea of money and riches and wealth is woven chapter by chapter by his thoughts, quotes from world leaders, bible verses and well picked out statistics relevant to his point.

Reading the book, it is hard to ignore Allan Kiuna as he tiptoes around one of the most thorny issues of modern day religion; the issue of prosperity gospel. And since he is one of the leading religious proponents of this movement in Kenya, Allan Kiuna tiptoeing is worse because he ends up knocking over buckets and chairs and cups that he creates a much louder commotion than he might have intended.

His message is direct; when you receive the blessing of God, you will live an abundant life as you so rightly deserve. God didn’t create all the abundance in the world intending for men not to enjoy it.

Walking the thin line between self-contradiction and being practical, the book looks at labour that is worthy of respect, and how an honest wristwatch repairer is more honoured than a dishonest President or governor. But Kiuna is practical enough to acknowledge, with biblical proof, that money gives you a voice, and will bestow upon you the honours of the land. He admits that the wisdom of a poor man will go unnoticed. If he saved the entire world, no one would remember him. 

MOTIVATIONAL TALK

This is the beauty of the worldliness of Living in Financial Distinction. It is realistic and practical. Kiuna is brave enough to admit, like Barack Obama in The Audacity of Hope, that money may not be the answer to all problems, but it sure makes life bearable. 

He writes: “Hypocrites lie that they do not need money. Truth is, we all need money to live on this earth.  I am yet to see anyone who engages in fasting and prayer so that God makes them poor. Money helps you lift the load of life more easily.” And while he is at it, he refutes the notion that the root of all evil is money. Instead, he counters that lack of money may as well be the root of all evil.

Despite his financial lessons on effortless money making, or diligent work or the place of God in your wealth, it is worth noting that while you plan to read it, be open to the idea of not encountering any proven financial advice, or any wealth management strategies. Do, however, be ready to feel good for 95 pages, before getting back to the real world. 

This book is not for Christians only. Don’t look at it like a spiritual book. For in what spiritual book will you meet Julius Nyerere or John D Rockefeller or Charles Kingsly or Rick Warren?

This is a motivational and worldly book.