Are you an Augmenter or a Reducer?
Let me explain.
When we are on the receiving end of someone’s kindness - whether they’ve hosted us for a meal, given us a thoughtful gift, or gone out of their way to offer assistance - there are two ways we can react.
One response is to walk away deeply impressed by their generosity, speaking about how kind, gracious, and giving they are to extend themselves in such a way. The other response, however, is to downplay their efforts. We tell ourselves - and perhaps even others - that the person didn’t really go out of their way. “They were eating anyway,” we might say, or “They had extras they didn’t need,” or even, “They probably had an ulterior motive.” In doing so, we reduce the significance of their kindness, making us feel less indebted to them.
In the book of Ezekiel (this week’s Haftorah), we read about the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar laying siege to Tyre. Although this was part of God’s plan, Nebuchadnezzar’s motives were entirely self-serving, driven by his own strategic ambitions to conquer the region. Yet, despite his motivations, Nebuchadnezzar was rewarded by God for carrying out what He needed to be done.
This teaches us a powerful lesson: we should strive to avoid being ‘reducers’, those who diminish the kindness of others. Instead, we should aim to be ‘augmenters’, acknowledging and giving credit to anyone we benefit from, even if they don’t fully deserve it.
By choosing to magnify the good in others, we not only express gratitude but also train ourselves to think more positively about people and their actions, cultivating generosity and goodwill in our own hearts.