Leaders need the willingness to be generous and to share their resources with others. They believe that a candle loses nothing by lighting another.
No one models this better than Boaz, the spiritual leader who became Ruth's husband. He owned a large field. Like other landowners, he employed harvest workers to bring in his crop. When the harvesters were finished, the less fortunate were allowed to glean in the field. Ruth was one such person.
The Generosity of Boaz
Boaz's generosity showed especially in how he treated Ruth. He asked the other harvest workers about her identity. Then he expressed his generosity toward her. Boaz showed his generous leadership in various ways:
- He was generous with his compassion (Ruth 2:8-9).
He told Ruth not to glean anywhere else; she would get everything she needed from him.
Ruth 2:8 Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:
9 Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.
- He was generous with his compliments (Ruth 2:11-12).
He noticed her self-sacrifice and praised her efforts.
Ruth 2:11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.
12 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
- He was generous with his courtesy (Ruth 2:14).
He invited her to a meal with his workers and kindly served her everything she wanted.
Ruth 2:14 And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.
- He was generous with his harvest (Ruth 2:15-16).
He instructed his reapers to lay out extra bundles of grain for her to find.
Ruth 2:15 And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not:
16 And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.
- He was generous with his credibility (Ruth 3:11-13).
He showed respect by doing what was right at her request.
Ruth 3:11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.
12 And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.
13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning.
- He was generous with his commitment (Ruth 4:9-10).
He committed himself to ensure that Ruth's former husband would have descendants to carry on his name.
Ruth 4:9 And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi.
10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.
Generosity in Jesus
Leaders can give without loving. But they cannot love without giving. Leaders who show no generosity should ask themselves: Do I truly love the people I lead?
When leaders err, they mostly err on the side of generosity. If they make a mistake on salaries, they overpay. If they let an employee go, they err by giving excessive emotional support and paying generous severance. No leader gets ahead by being stingy.
Jesus spoke about generosity when he said in Matthew 5:40-42:
Matthew 5:40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
This generosity drove Boaz to go the second mile with Ruth, even before he suspected she might become his wife. For he assumed she would be drawn to a younger man (Ruth 3:10). Nevertheless, Boaz gave her extra time, attention, grain, respect, favor, and honor. What about you? Who would call your leadership generous?