Devotion: Generosity

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”  Luke 6:37-38 NLT

In the book, The Power Paradox: How We Gain and Lose Influence, Dacher Keltner, Ph. D. discusses how practicing generosity, altruism and kindness helps people gain social power.  According Dr. Keltner, when you have little material wealth you need to influence others with your kindness because it’s all you have to give. But once people rise to a place of power, which often means money and status, they lose sight of ethics and other people’s’ interests and have reduced capacity to empathize with others whom they feel are less important.

People become less generous even though they may have more money to share. This is because generosity always encompasses kindness and selflessness.  In reality, wealthy and powerful people donate large amounts of money (philanthropy), but if there are motivators such as getting a name on a building, they may not be practicing generosity.

In an experiment cited in the book, a pedestrian crosswalk next to the USC Berkeley campus was studied to determine which drivers stopped for student pedestrians in the crosswalk (who have the lawful right-of-way). Drivers of inexpensive cars stopped for the for the pedestrian every time (100%).  Drivers of expensive luxury cars stopped for pedestrians only 46% of the time.

Which metaphorical car do you drive? Are you generous to those who cross your path, even when they’re headed in the opposite direction?

Dear God, be my copilot and help me to see others as they are and to be generous to their needs. Amen.

 

Written by Denise Mainquist