What is "Compassion?" Is it just a feeling we get when we see someone that appears to be struggling or someone that is helpless. Webster's Dictionary describes compassion to be, "sympathy for a person who is suffering or distressed in someway." I would imagine that most of us have felt compassion in someway or another at some point in our lives. Seeing a homeless person on the side of the road, or a kid walking home from school in the pouring rain. We would describe the sympathy we feel for their situation to be compassion. But is it much more than that? Is it just a feeling? I guess the best place to start would be the words of Jesus. What does he have to say about all of this?
"And Jesus when throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had COMPASSION for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. THEN he said to his disciples, 'the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'" – Matthew 9:35-38
Compassion is an action! No, maybe not in the grammatically correct English language. But in the life and example of Jesus, it most certainly was. There is a particular part of this passage in scripture that I want us to pay close attention to. It explains the feeling of compassion that Jesus experiences, but there is something he does following this feeling. It's the "then" part. He commands his disciples to pray.
I believe that the heart of compassion is prayer. Sometimes we feel helpless. Maybe we pass up that homeless person holding the sign at the intersection and we feel that we can't give to them today. Does that make us horrible people? Are we not being the hands and feet of Jesus? I've been struck with this thought many times. I even came across a passage in scripture today that made me feel really bad.
"Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you." – Matthew 5:42
These are also the words of Jesus. What does this mean for the single mother who has a budget to stick to? Or the poor college student trying to raise support for themselves to go on a missions trip? Should they be giving to every begger they pass on the street corners? And should they feel bad if they can't? These are legitament questions that have haunted my mind. Jesus says to give. He encourages us to give of ourselves in such a radical way that it will not make any sense to unbelievers. But he also wants us to be mindful of what that person's best interest actually is. Am I supporting their greed and self indulgence by giving to them. This is not an excuse to not give to those in need around us. Jesus commands it. But we also have to take every need into account and treat each one indivudually.
This is where PRAYER begins to play a huge role. Remember how Jesus told his disciples to pray for laborers. They were unable with the means that they had to meet the great need that was out there. The only thing they could do besides what they were already doing and investing in was pray. The compassionate action in this sense is prayer. Jesus saw a need, he felt compassion, therefore he prayed. In many cases he himself met the need, but in the large spectrum he prayed for others to be ready and willing to meet those needs.
So the next time you pass up that homeless widow on the side of the road because you yourself are unable to give, instead of feeling like a rotten Christian, remember your greatest weapon of compassion. Pray for someone else to step in and meet her need. The world doesn't rest on your shoulders, remember that. There is a huge body of Christ out there working together to meet those needs. Just be ready when God calls you to step up and give of yourself selflessly.
