Compassion

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