“Thus says the LORD of hosts:
‘ Execute true justice,
Show mercy and compassion
Everyone to his brother.” (Zechariah 7:9)“He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness.” (Hebrews 5:2)
“for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.” (Hebrews 10:34)
“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous.” (1 Peter 3:8)
It is not necessary to understand another’s pain to have compassion on them, although sometimes we do have compassion for that reason. Even we ourselves feel a little relief when someone says of our pain, “I understand.” Yet sometimes, even though we might not understand the pain or the suffering of another, or though we might not have any emotional attachment to that person, we can show compassion.
Several weeks ago, on a Sunday morning before the service, I was on my way out of the restroom to get to the sanctuary and meet up with the rest of the worship team before the service. Yet, a young mother had just stepped into the stall when her little baby started to cry. The sound of babies crying is heartbreaking enough, and I was moved to start talking to the baby so she wouldn’t be sad. But even more, it was the mother I felt for– she couldn’t even go to the bathroom! And I heard her saying, “I’m coming! I’ll be right there!” (this was right after she went in) I was on my way out, but decided to stop and keep the baby happy or at least quiet so the mother could have just a moment of peace. The baby calmed down and I walked out. Two seconds later, I heard her crying again. So I turned right around and went back in, squatted down on the floor and started to smile and talk to the baby until the mother came out.
I didn’t need to understand from experience the stress and agony of always taking care of little ones, of changing diapers, feeding, cleaning, watching, entertaining the baby, and getting up at 4:00 a.m., almost never getting any sleep. I do know how it is to not be able to even get by myself, or to go an entire day without being able to go to the bathroom because everything and everyone are always calling on me, or the “fun” just never stops! I did not need to have a personal attachment to the mother to have compassion on her in her plight. I could have just walked on and gotten to where I needed to be, thinking, “She’s a mother; she does this stuff all the time; she can handle it.” Does she ever get a little bit of a break? Does she ever have 10 seconds of time to even think? I didn’t need to know to have compassion, but knowing that she is a mother, that is probably the case! For just 2 minutes, could she use the bathroom without her baby crying? I was there and I could do something about it; yes, I had things to do, but they could wait just 2 minutes for the sake of someone else who has it harder than I do.
I do understand some of the mother’s plight, though not all of it. I know what it’s like to be up very late for others even though I would rather not be, I know what it’s like to be needed at all times, or to have my hands overfull for hours on end, I know what it’s like running a house, yet I don’t know what it’s like to be completely devoted to the care of a child, 24/7. Yet I could show compassion on someone who does. It’s not that she needed my help because I am so capable or she is too weak; love does not work that way. It was that every single one of us has a point where we need a hand. That’s why there’s lots of different people on the earth. When human beings exist together within a certain perimeter (which a lot of us do!) we need to “bend” and “extend.” That is, some areas of our will or even our personality have got to be sacrificed for the sake of others. We also need to reach out to help others, sometimes through support and sometimes through correction.
So when we see someone in need or struggling, we need to extend ourselves even though we may not “feel their pain.” For instance again, the little children who are rescued through the valiant efforts of organizations such as Pearl Alliance– I might not “understand” their plight; I may not feel their pain from experience or even know the horrors that they constantly go through, yet I can have compassion on them and extend myself, and do all within my power, to help them and show them that somebody cares for real, and are not driven by their emotions. As the body of Christ, we need to extend ourselves to help the helpless, and to share with them the saving love of Jesus, regardless of whether or not we “feel their pain.” Pearl Alliance is a valiant organization that is in the front lines of a battle not many know exist.
This is the love, I think, that we as a church, as the body of Christ, need to grasp. It is not based on our emotions. Not to say that God did not give us emotions. See, even Jesus understands from experience all of our temptations and all of our pains! Isn’t it amazing? And still, he teaches us to have compassion regardless of our emotions; He teaches us to love without fear, without holding back.
In the everyday situations, and in the largescale turbulences outside of our own little world, we have to show compassion, especially to our brethren. Sometimes it’s giving a cup of cold water to a little one. Sometimes it’s visiting a brother in chains. Sometimes it’s feeding the hungry, on a small or a large scale.
“Therefore receive (be hospitable to) one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7)
“Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:1-8)
“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:19-21)
In closing, I became aware just today that there is a degree of violence going on in Tarakan, East Kalimantan, Indonesia right now, after a member of the Tidung tribe was murdered. The situation is so heated, that most other Indonesians have fled the area for safety. The MAF missionaries could not make any flights, and they have to be ready to evacuate if necessary. Please pray for these people’s safety and guidance. For more information, read Tripp Flythe’s blog.
For more Word for Wednesdays, visit Yeah, Right.
