God looks in your heart, not pockets!
SIR — On October 13 your reporter, George Bita, reported about a sermon on giving which I had delivered at St Peter’s church Buwasa in Iganga Archdeaconry. When I saw the headline of the article, “Basoga are misers, says Bishop†I was very saddened.
SIR — On October 13 your reporter, George Bita, reported about a sermon on giving which I had delivered at St Peter’s church Buwasa in Iganga Archdeaconry. When I saw the headline of the article, “Basoga are misers, says Bishop†I was very saddened. The article went on to say, “Kyomya said the Basoga’s unwillingness to give out the little they have made them the top misers and poorest in the country.†The article said the opposite of what I had taught and had actually put words in my mouth. This is not the first time I have been misquoted and misrepresented, and though I was sad I was willing not to pursue the matter. Giving is a topic I am teaching all across Busoga Diocese during my pastoral visits, and I was hoping to have ample opportunity to correct the misrepresentation in the article during those visits. However, when the New vision followed up the matter with a cartoon on October 14, I realised that the misrepresentation had gone out of hand and that it had grave consequences in my ministry and public image. This is a grave matter for me as a religious leader and teacher of the church. I therefore request to be heard also on the principle of natural justice.
Briefly, what I said was as follows: In Luke 21: 1-4, Jesus commended a poor widow above everybody else. The poor widow had only two coins and she gave them as her offering. From this Scripture I am teaching the church two points about giving.
First, giving which pleases God has not got to do with amounts. Rather, it has to do with your heart for God… that you love God so much that you will give even if you have very little. God then is looking at your heart, not your money. Your giving is a glimpse at the priority you have for God in your heart, not your money. Your motivation in giving must not be what God will give back to you or getting wealthy. God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7), and he will bless you, but your motivation in giving should be worship and priority of God in your heart.
Secondly, in giving we should give sacrificially. This is what the widow did. We should learn from her. Actually, when you love you give generously and sacrificially. When you give coins, for example, and that is what you have, God will be abundantly pleased. If you give coins when actually you can give much more, it shows that God is a low priority in your heart. In conclusion, theologically it is inaccurate and improper to say that people are poor because they give little to God. That is what they may have, and God will be utterly happy with them. As the scriptures say, “Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which he has promised to those who love Him? (james 2:5).
The Rt Rev Dr Michael Kyomya
Bishop of Busoga Diocese
Briefly, what I said was as follows: In Luke 21: 1-4, Jesus commended a poor widow above everybody else. The poor widow had only two coins and she gave them as her offering. From this Scripture I am teaching the church two points about giving.
First, giving which pleases God has not got to do with amounts. Rather, it has to do with your heart for God… that you love God so much that you will give even if you have very little. God then is looking at your heart, not your money. Your giving is a glimpse at the priority you have for God in your heart, not your money. Your motivation in giving must not be what God will give back to you or getting wealthy. God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7), and he will bless you, but your motivation in giving should be worship and priority of God in your heart.
Secondly, in giving we should give sacrificially. This is what the widow did. We should learn from her. Actually, when you love you give generously and sacrificially. When you give coins, for example, and that is what you have, God will be abundantly pleased. If you give coins when actually you can give much more, it shows that God is a low priority in your heart. In conclusion, theologically it is inaccurate and improper to say that people are poor because they give little to God. That is what they may have, and God will be utterly happy with them. As the scriptures say, “Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which he has promised to those who love Him? (james 2:5).
The Rt Rev Dr Michael Kyomya
Bishop of Busoga Diocese