During a TV interview, a reporter asked Bill Gates, saying, “Mr. Gates, Microsoft products have been illegally copied and distributed in China. How are you going to deal with that problem?”
That was over twenty years ago when the software was convenient to duplicate. In those days, most people in China couldn’t afford to buy Microsoft, so they bought cheap, illegal copies from the black market.
I was curious about his answer, but to my surprise, Bill Gates replied magnanimously, “China is still developing. If they steal technology, I’d rather have them steal mine than others.” He seemed confident that Microsoft would survive the theft and turn the thieves into customers.
Today, his magnanimity pays off. After decades of using bootleg copies, the Chinese have fallen in love with Microsoft and prefer to buy it as they can now afford it. Today, Bill Gates has captured a market four times larger than the United States because of his magnanimity.
Conversely, many good software products have disappeared because of their pettiness. Even if you have the best product or the greatest idea in the world, your attitude can become a stumbling block to your progress.
The dictionary defines magnanimity as “having a noble spirit and being generous and kind, especially towards someone who has wronged you.” It came from the Latin root words “magna,” meaning great or big, and “animus,” soul. So magnanimity means “great soul.”
In the Fruit of the Spirit, the Greek term ἀγαθωσύνη (agathōsynē) is translated as “generosity” in NRSV and “goodness” or “nobility” in others. I discovered the best translation of this word is “magnanimity” because it covers all three meanings—generosity, goodness, and nobility.
Why is magnanimity important? It elevates your life and open doors for opportunity. It prevents you from the pettiness that hinders your success. Dr. Steven R. Covey calls it “scarcity mentality” instead of “abundance mentality.” Magnanimity is an abundance mentality that attracts abundance.
Based on this week’s scripture lesson, we will explore how Jesus taught us to cultivate magnanimity to become salt of the earth rather than a stumbling block to the souls. Let’s begin!
The scripture lesson for today is from the Gospel According to Mark 9:38-50. [Listen to the Word of the Lord!]
John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 Whoever is not against us is for us. 41 For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.
42 “If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, 48 where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.
49 “For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” (Mk 9:38-50).
[Blessed are those who delight in God’s Word! Thanks be to God.]
All these scary metaphors and hyperbolies shows us how much Jesus detests pettiness.
The disciples were mad because someone had bootlegged Jesus’ name to cast out demons. As followers of Jesus, they thought they had exclusive rights to Jesus’ brand. Jesus had given them authority over unclean spirits (Mk 6:8), but they thought it was their exclusive right.
So, the disciples tried to stop the bootlegger, and John reported to Jesus about the case,
“Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” (Mk 9:38).
Notice John said, “he was not following us,” instead of saying, “he was not following you.” John seemed to believe anyone using Jesus’ name must be their downline.
Sadly, we still see this kind of religious monopoly today. Some denominations do not recognize you as a Christian if you are not a member of their hierarchy—their pope, their bishops, or their baptism. It would break the heart of Jesus to see denominations or non-denominations today still try to monopolize Jesus’ brand.
Jesus’ answer must have disappointed the disciples.
But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.” (Mk 9:39).
That’s magnanimity! It’s like Bill Gates saying, “Don’t stop those software thieves. Everyone who creates an excellent Word document, a powerful spreadsheet, or a timesaving database with Microsoft Office will soon appreciate my powerful products.”
This case of stealing Jesus’ power resembled the woman who touched Jesus’ cloak to heal her bleeding disease of twelve years. I’m sure you remember the story. She secretly tapped into Jesus’ power to heal herself, while this man used Jesus’ power to heal others without permission.
If Jesus did not revote his power from the woman, why would Jesus stop this man from using his name to do good? After all, he was trying to heal people, not harm people. What he did could make Jesus even more popular and the disciples’ job much easier because he was helping.
The fact is that Jesus could use more hands to spread the good news faster and farther. The twelve had the privilege of being the first disciples and part of the inner circle, but Jesus did not allow them to be gatekeepers to prevent others from getting in. They were friends, not foes.
Jesus taught them a simple principle to differentiate friends from foes.
“Whoever is not against us is for us.” (Mk 9:40).
There are enough enemies in this world, and we don’t need to make any more. We must be magnanimous to develop strategic alliances with those not against us. Evil wins when good people are divided. Jesus showed his grace by promising rewards to anyone who makes our job easier.
For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward. (Mk 9:41).
Even God doesn’t withhold generosity from those who show kindness to you. Then why should you withhold your generosity? Jesus’ magnanimity should inspire us to be magnanimous. His prayer on the cross shows the ultimate magnanimity, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Lk 23:34).
Here, we must understand the difference between “reward” and “salvation.” Everyone is rewarded for good deeds, but salvation is for believers only. Rewards are for servants, but salvation is for children.
Reward is not salvation, but it can be a path to redemption. Recipients of rewards could eventually become believers if they keep finding success in Jesus’ name. Servants can become children through adoption.
Pettiness could put a stumbling block on someone’s path to salvation. Jesus said,
“If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea.” (Mk 9:42).
Jesus called them “little ones,” meaning beginners or baby-believers. Their faith was young and fragile because they were still getting their feet wet. At this moment, Jesus might still be holding a child in his arms because, in a few verses above, Jesus picked up a child to teach the disciples an object lesson. (We covered that last week.)
Now, John came to complain about the outsider who used Jesus’ name without the license, but Jesus did not see him as an outsider but as a “little one” or a beginner. Can you treat every outsider as a beginner? That would change your attitude from scarcity to abundance.
In his magnanimity, Jesus saw this man as an opportunity rather than an obstacle. If this man got used to the power of his name, he would soon become a believer and possibly a convinced evangelist.
The disciples’ pettiness could ruin that young man’s potential and deny him the ultimate salvation. They must change their attitude to become magnanimous, or they could become stumbling blocks.
Jesus depicted the graveness of their pettiness by saying, “it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea.”
In this passage, Jesus used intense imagery to emphasize the wickedness of pettiness. Anyone who denies another’s opportunity for salvation is worthy of drowning in the deep sea. Jesus then taught us three areas of consciousness to cultivate magnanimity.
1. Be Conscious of What You Do
First, be conscious of your actions that make you petty. Cut off those actions to be magnanimous. Jesus said,
“If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.” (Mk 9:43).
The original Greek text could translate as, “If your hand causes you to make someone stumble,” as opposed to “make you stumble.” Some ancient Greek sentences can be translated both ways. Maybe Jesus intended the pun to mean “If you make someone stumble, you stumble yourself.”
Your hand symbolizes your actions. If you do something to make a potential believer stumble, cut that activity off your life. It’s not literally cutting off the hands. Otherwise, Christians will be a bunch of maims and cripples. The exaggeration is meant to be memorable and humorous. It’s of rabbinic tradition.
The Apostle Paul also gave a similar warning. He said,
“All things are lawful,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are lawful,” but not all things are constructive. (1 Co 10:23).
Because we are saved by grace, not by work, all things are lawful for us to do. Christians are free to do anything, literally! However, we must consider whether our actions are beneficial, constructive, or loving, especially toward those with fledgling faith.
So, for the sake of saving the souls, we must be magnanimous! Be conscious of what you do.
2. Be Conscious of Where You Go
The place you go could build you up or tear you down. Have you ever heard of the term “Third Place?” Your home is your first place, and your work is your second place. Examples of third places include churches, cafes, bars, clubs, libraries, gyms, and parks, among others.
In his book, The Great Good Place (1989), Ray Oldenburg argues that third places are essential for civil society, democracy, civic engagement, and establishing feelings of a sense of place.
The church may be your third place. Since I work at the church, it’s my second place. My third place is the Rotary Club.
Your third place should help you cultivate magnanimity or great soul rather than selfishness. What kind of third places could be destructive? The swingers club would be one. Any place that is not constructive could make you stumble. Be conscious of where your feet lead you. Jesus said,
And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. (Mk 9:45).
Again, Jesus is not talking about cutting your foot off but asking you to stop going to the places that make yourself or others stumble. Choose the place that cultivates your soul and makes you magnanimous.
3. Be Conscious of How You See
Have you ever seen a picture of an old lady or young lady illustration? You may see the same picture as a picture of a young lady, but another person would see an old lady. After some change of perspective, you can see both ways. It’s a good illustration of how we can see people differently by changing perspectives.
In this passage, the disciples saw the young man as a thief, but Jesus saw him as a little one or a potential alliance. When you look at someone, what do you see? A potential saint or an irredeemable sinner? What you see depends on how you see it. It reveals your magnanimity. Jesus said,
And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell. (Mk 9:47)
Again, Jesus is not asking you to gouge out your eyes but to change your perspective. The exaggerated illustration warns you of the seriousness of seeing only the negative. Learn to see people for their potential, and you will become magnanimous.
Jesus rested the case with this last metaphor.
“For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” (Mk 9:49-50).
That means magnanimity does not happen overnight except through refining fires. To have salt in yourselves is to enrich your life with grace. Every magnanimous person has been through refining fires and pruning pains.
Here, salt also represents grace. Grace is the foundation of magnanimity. The last sentence explains the metaphor, “Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” In other words, if you have grace, you will be at peace with others. The Apostle Paul also used salt to symbolize grace for peaceful relationships.
“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.” (Col 4:6).
Just as salt makes food taste sweet, grace enriches your life and makes your words magnanimous to win souls. Let’s cultivate magnanimity by being conscious of three areas of life and make sure they don’t make yourself or others stumble.
1. Be Conscious of What You Do
2. Be Conscious of Where You Go
3. Be Conscious of How You See
So, let us cultivate magnanimity together to build peaceful relationships and form strategic alliances with the “little ones” to fulfill the greater purpose God has for us.
Until we meet again, keep your light shining brighter and broader, and harvest the fruit of profound freedom, wholeness, and eternal happiness.
Amen!
Bye now!
