Leadership Qualities: Generosity Part 3

Leaders Give First-Ecclesiastes 11:1-9

Solomon counsels leaders to be generous, giving before they receive. And why should leaders initiate giving? Because they know they will eventually receive a hefty return. Wise leaders embrace the following truths about generosity:

1. Givers go first.
2. Givers receive a return.
3. The return may not be immediate.
4. Giving does not keep us from misfortune.
5. If you do not give, you cannot expect a return.
6. The return will be in proportion to your giving.
7. The motive for giving is love for God.

Leaders Bless People-Song of Solomon 4:1-16

Good leaders give the “blessing” to those they lead. Gary Smalley and John Trent remind us that the blessing contains five key elements:

1. Affirming words: words that give hope and encouragement to the listener.
2. Meaningful touch: an embrace or hand on a shoulder communicating care.
3. Expressions of high value: a statement on the value that person adds to everyone.
4. Vision of a special future: provides word pictures that communicate potential.
5. Application of genuine commitment: do everything in your power to see that blessing comes to pass.

Candle Loses Nothing-Luke 9:12-17

God likes win/win situations. We see this in the account of the feeding of the five thousand. Jesus took one basket of fish and bread, blessed it, and fed multitudes. Whoever gave up his lunch basket in the beginning, received 12 times more at the end of the day. This is how generosity works.

Join me next time for Leadership Qualities: Generosity Part 4