Why? Because kindness isn’t easy. It takes putting ourselves aside and focusing only on that person’s needs. It takes letting someone else’s needs override our agenda. It means helping someone, when it’s not convenient or comfortable.
The definition of compassion is “a feeling of deep sympathy or sorrow
for another who is stricken with misfortune, accompanied by the strong desire
to alleviate the suffering.” These are the very things we strive to never
experience – sorrow, stricken, misfortune, suffering. So, why would we choose
to put ourselves into this kind of situation? The answer is found when we look
beyond the situation to the person. The definition of compassion didn’t speak
of fixing the situation, but instead it’s focus is on comforting and caring for
the person in order to provide relief or alleviate the effects of the
situation.
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, and forgiving each other, just as Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32
Some people have concluded that they shouldn’t help others that can “help themselves”. Others say the situation people find themselves in were their own doing. Both comments may be true, but the verses in the Bible about compassion do not contain conditions for our giving kindness to others. That would include some judgment of the person, situation, and circumstances when we probably don’t really know all of the facts. God knows the facts. He’ll take care of that part. Our part is, not only receive His kindness, but to “dish it out”. In fact, in Galatians 6:2 we are charged with “bearing each other’s burdens”.
Judge not, for
with the judgment you pronounce on others - you will be judged, and with
the measure you use it will be measured to you.
Matthew 7:1-2
The most popular story of
a person who could “dish it out” was the parable of, “The Good Samaritan” found in Luke 10:25-37. Jesus tells this story in response to the question
of who really is a "neighbor", whom Leviticus 19:18 says should be
loved. Jesus tells those in the crowd about three people that come walking down
a road and find a man robbed, naked, and injured. This situation certainly fits
our definition above including sorrow, stricken,
misfortune, suffering.
The first person to come
by, but not stop to help, is a priest. The highest and
most revered position in the community of those Jesus is speaking to. Then a Levite comes by, but doesn’t stop.
Levites were from the tribe of Israel chosen to be the priests however, some of
them also were known to be guards in the temples as well as political leaders.
You would expect these two so called leaders of the community to do what they
are called to do, right? But in Jesus’ story - both avoid the man. Finally, a Samaritan
comes by. Samaritans and Jews generally despised each other, but the Samaritan is
said to be the one that stops to help the injured man. Portraying a Samaritan in
a positive light would have come as a shock to Jesus's audience. Trying
to make a point, Jesus intentionally switches the expectations of those
involved and puts the “lowest” of position in the place of honor.
Smart. People
often dismiss their own capabilities to help stating that they don’t have
enough to share, they don’t have the training to deal with the problem, they
have other responsibilities or, as represented by the priest and the Levite in
this story, they aren’t of that tribe. Jesus puts the people in a position to
challenge them to step in and care for one another as people and neighbors. Hopefully
they concluded, “if a lowly Samaritan can help someone, and be thought of as
good, then so can I”.
To the contrary, if
your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is
thirsty, give him something to drink;
Finally, all
of you, have unity of mind, sympathy,
brotherly
love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
Romans 12:20 &
1 Peter 3:8
We can’t do any of this by ourselves though. On our own we would deviate
back to our selfish ways. We need a
supernatural boost of power to show compassion.
When speaking about words for power found in the Bible, Pastor Doug
Heely reminded us that we carry God’s heart, compassion moves us to action, and
compassion opens the door to supernatural. Galatians 5:22-23 tells us the
spirit of the Lord is what is in us and produces the “fruit”. Fruit in our
lives guided by the Spirit’s power is a life of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in us and through
us.
Occasions
for dishing out a God fruit salad are plenty. Jesus set examples dishing it out
as detailed in the four Gospels of the Bible, Matthew, Mark, Luke & John. Many times Jesus
was in uncomfortable places but continued to show compassion to the people. He
did not get caught up in the circumstance but looked toward the heart of the
person. Some of His strange encounters involved a sick woman tugging at this
robe, thousands of tired hot and hungry people surrounding him, a broken
hearted Daddy and his sick daughter, a hooker naked in the street, a dirty and paralyzed
man begging on the corner, two very angry sisters whose brother just died, a
rich man in a tree, his friends caught in a fierce storm at sea, taking a boy
from a coffin at a funeral, helping an outcast get water from a well, and a
group of friends that took the roof off of a house to get their friend in to be
touched by Jesus.
Go
~ look for opportunities to demonstrate compassion. It could be buying lunch for the homeless man
outside McDonald’s, or letting a car into our lane in front of us, or maybe
it’s stopping to check in on someone at work that’s having a bad day. It could
even be offering to walk a crying baby around the courtyard at church so mom
can go sit inside. God is very
imaginative so let him show you how and when to lend a hand. We love it, seek it and we know how to take
it. Now let’s go and “dish it out”.
Click here to see a video
about the power of light
For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also is
God’s comfort through Christ. Thank you Father for the comfort you provide in
all our afflictions. Enable us and impower us to have compassion for those who
are suffering. Forgive me for turning my heart when seeing those in need and
letting blindness over take me. Instead, as a chosen one of God, put in me a
heart of compassion,and help me to put on the clothes as a holy beloved child
of yours
which is kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;
From 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 Colossians
3:12
(9 minutes but stick it out to the end)
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