Renewing Your Mind in LeadershipSample

Leader: When You Focus on Others, Then You Are Generous.

When you pray for others rather than focusing solely on your own needs, when you serve others selflessly, when you sacrifice personal pleasure for their benefit, when you listen attentively instead of talking incessantly, when your aim in resolving conflicts is to bless the other party radically and creatively, and when you prioritize the needs of others above your own, you demonstrate various forms of generosity.

Spiritual maturity in a person is evident, among other ways, by a gradual or radical shift from self-focus to concern for others. It involves moving from selfishness to surrender, from being stingy to being open-handed, and from expecting others to sacrifice for you to be willing to sacrifice for others. As believers mature, they progressively shed their self-centeredness. In this regard, the ultimate example of selflessness is seen in Christ on the cross. The Bible describes Jesus as having "...emptied himself, taking the form of a servant..." (Philippians 2:7). The Greek word for "emptying" is kenosis, which signifies a complete and voluntary self-emptying. Jesus gave His life entirely for others—a supreme demonstration of generosity.

When someone gives a gift or contributes generously to a cause, it represents a partial expression of generosity since they usually retain other possessions. However, it differs from someone who gives themselves entirely and offers their life on behalf of others.

For reflection:When interacting with another person, who should be the focus of the conversation—yourself or the other person?

Dr. Jesús Sampedro