Compassion
How do you get to where you lack compassion? You lower compassion progressively as you decide that others do not care about the loss of those things that add comfort and pleasure to your life.
You are showing signs of loss of compassion when you talk about poor people as being poor because they will not work. You assume that homeless people do not care if they cannot bathe or have a change of clothes. You assume that people without air-conditioning get used to the heat. You assume that folks who live on food stamps are satisfied with low diet, no extras, and being treated as lower-class. You assume that people with illnesses or physical limitations feel the same about life as you do.
I was on a missionary trip to Haiti. Laila, Josh, Dana, and I were being given a tour of the capital city. As we moved into the worst slum area there was a poignant and painful moment when we saw an older woman standing in an open sewage drain bathing. She was completely without clothes.
When she looked up and saw us she was embarrassed and tried to cover herself with her hands and arms.
It was not a photo op moment. It was a moment to be ashamed for having looked in shock at poverty as a thing curious and assuming it was normal. Assuming that the woman was comfortable in her environment. Assuming that she had no modesty because of circumstances.
The picture of that moment yet haunts me 23 years later. The insensitivity of comfort is to think and assume that those who have less are comfortable. Pride hardens the heart with assuaging words and egotistical thoughts that demean the less fortunate.
Poverty is not beautiful. Poverty too knows embarrassment, shame, humility, and discomfort.
Jesus had compassion on those poor, sick, afflicted, lost, addicted, cold, demon-possessed, and with broken dreams.
My hope and prayer is that the people of God may be the hands and feet of Jesus. My prayer is that we may be broken with compassion as Jesus was and is.
There is no greatness without compassion.
Churches lost in narcissism of wanting worship that pleases their cultural appetite and meets every person's expectation, desire, comfort and intellect are doomed to poverty of Spirit. God has a word for them: "Ichabod"...the glory of the Lord has departed.
One more thing. Compassion is not a feeling. It is a practice. Compassion is not practiced in pity. Compassion drove Jesus to take time off from a funeral to help people.
How are you doing with compassion? Are you practicing compassion in sharing the gospel? Do you feel sorry for sinners? Do you care that they are lost? Do you care and feel the pain of persons less fortunate?
What price are you willing to pay to serve those in need?
Pastor Bare
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd [Matthew 9:36].