Genuinely Caring About People
"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 2:4 (ESV)
In 1995, Michael Jackson released a very controversial song on his album, HIStory called They Don’t Care About Us. It’s arguably the best song on the album (in my opinion) and it’s message is very relevant to this day. I didn’t understand how meaningful the lyrics were until last summer and seeing how the world is reopening so quickly when COVID-19 is still on the loose and seeing how many are struggling to make ends meet along with countless of other issues especially in the black community, I am convinced that the world is ran by "leaders" that don’t really care about us. It’s obvious that safety and justice don’t matter. It’s all about money! We as Christian leaders must be different than those of the world. The thing that is going to set us apart is our genuine care for others. People need to see us and know that WE CARE! Jesus said they will know that we are His disciples by our love. Love does what’s best for others. I said a few weeks ago that true leaders truly care about others. What does it mean to care about others? To care is to feel/show concern and interest for others. It is to look after and provide the needs of others. Caring is simply doing what is best for others with the right motives. It’s dying to our selfish ways and selfish agendas. God wants us to be leaders that care. We need to care for one another. How can we be leaders that care?
How To Genuinely Care For Others...
1. See what people need
Caring for others requires that you be attentive to others. What do they need? We are to LOOK to the interests of others. 2 powerful questions you can ask someone is “Do you anything? Is there anything I can do for you?” Ask them. Listen to them and be understanding. This all boils down to empathy. We must see things from their point of view by placing ourselves in their shoes. See what people need. Stop focusing on yourself and check on others around you. Look after them and see if they need anything.
2. Supply what people need
After you discover what people need, supply it. Caring for others isn’t lip service but action. Allow God to use you to be a blessing to others. If you see someone in need, help them out. Be a blessing not a burden. Proverbs 25:21 says "If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink." Don’t be prejudice in who you help. Don’t pick and choose who you’re kind to. Be nice to those you like and those you don’t like. The Word says if they are hungry feed them and if they are thirsty to give them drink. We shouldn’t hesitate to help others. If you have the power and resources to do it, then do it. We are here to serve others. If you were in need wouldn’t you want someone to help you? Treat people the way you want to be treated. Supply the need!
I know that all of this seems very elementary but it really is that simple. It’s not complicated yet we fail to do it. Genuinely caring for others is seeing what people need and supplying it. That’s how you show people you care. People want to feel cared for. One of my favorite quotes (I probably say it every month) is "people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care." It’s not about what you know, it’s about you caring for others. Do you care for others genuinely even when it doesn’t benefit you? You will never gain the hearts of others until you have a heart that cares for others. Be a leader that CARES! God cares about you, He cares about us all so lets start Genuinely Caring About People!
