Compassion is defined as ‘Sympathetic pity
and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.’
For most of my life, this term has baffled
me. Being raised to know the commandments of God and live accordingly I found
the idea of compassion to be contradictory to obedience. If someone is living a
lifestyle that is in direct opposition to God I believed that my moral
responsibility was to shun that person and everything associated with him or
her. That’s not reasonable.
I recently read a devotional about a woman
that went out of her way to be helpful to others – giving people rides to the
airport and church, helping her ex-husband pack for a move, and throwing a baby
shower for an unwed mother. Giving people rides to different places has never
been an issue with me. I’ve always believed that ‘since God saw fit to bless
me with transportation I should do what I can to help others with it.’ Helping
the ex-husband pack is one I will need some time to understand. The baby shower
for the unwed mother is the one that hit me.
I grew up in a church where most of the
young people lived lives that went against the rules. Many had children out of
wedlock, others contracted diseases and most left the church. My parents made a
point of keeping us away from other young people in our church because this
example was not one they wanted for their children. I think this is where I get
the idea that if there is a situation I find particularly immoral I should
avoid it. This mentality has led to a myriad of other problems, but that is
beyond this post.
In the Bible we see Jesus ministering to
sinners, to the chagrin of the Pharisees (Luke 15:1, 2). However, Jesus’ ministry
of compassion extended beyond the temporal needs of these people, He pointed
them to the source of lasting peace – the Holy Scriptures, specifically the Law
(Luke 18:18-22). The crippled man brought by his four friends to Jesus was told
that his sins were forgiven (Matthew 9:1-8). The woman caught in adultery was told
to go and sin no more (John 8:2-11). It seems to me that beyond car rides,
helping with moves, and throwing baby showers the most compassionate thing we
can do for a person is share the word of God with them. In God’s Word, we all
find the hope that repentance will be accepted, forgiveness will be granted,
and help will be readily available to avoid the traps that so easily take us
down. There is no greater gift a person can receive.
Scripture teaches that because all sin
separates us from God that all sins be seen as equal – “For all have sinned,
and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Therefore, if someone
commits a sin, it is not my duty to be judge, jury, and executioner, because I
am just as guilty as they are of sin (Matthew 7:1). My sole duty is to reflect
Christ to the world – embracing His commandments, and showing mercy to His
suffering children (despite the cause of their suffering) “He had shewed thee,
O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly,
and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8)
Continue to be Blessed
