COMPASSIONATE OR COMPLACENT?
by Julie Jackson
Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior was filled with compassion. Compassion was paramount in Jesus’ ministry upon this earth. Compassion flowed through every fiber of his being. He was moved with compassion! Jesus had a deep compassion for man kind! Jesus was never complacent, but he was always compassionate!
As imitators of Jesus, as disciples of Jesus, as fishers of men, we too are to be filled with compassion!
The compassion of Jesus is evident through out the New Testament. The first scripture I’d like us to take a look at is: Matthew 14:14 “When he went ashore and saw a great throng of people, He had compassion for them and cured their sick.” But his compassion didn’t stop there that day. As we continue down through this scripture in verses 15 – 21 we see that He was so filled with compassion that he saw to it that the 5,000 were fed.
In Matt 14:15, the disciples had an entirely different outlook then Jesus. Let’s take a look at this verse. “When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, ‘This is a remote and barren place, and the day is now over; send the throngs away into the villages to buy food for themselves”. The disciples were not moved with compassion for the people, they were complacent. Jesus was teaching his disciples about compassion that day! Jesus was compassionate!!
In this day and age, we still see the hungry on our streets. And like the disciples there are many in this generation who want to send them away to fend for themselves! They are complacent.
But there are many others who have great compassion. Just recently I witnessed several compassionate deeds that brought tears to my eyes, while on an out of state visit. As I drove into town I noticed a small bakery where many day laborers (men and women) would line up outside waiting for contractors or landscape companies to stop and offer them jobs. One morning, I saw a landscape company truck stopped there, passing out coffee and donuts to all the workers that were lined up! In an affluent community these people are generally passed up as though they don’t even exist. These people are complacent! Yet one man had compassion on these people! He saw the need of these people; he had compassion for these people; and he responded to the need of these people.
Compassion always demands a response!
Through out the scriptures whenever Jesus
was moved with compassion, he responded in like kind to whatever that immediate
need was! Whether it was healing the sick, whether it was feeding the hungry, or
raising the dead! Jesus had corresponding action immediately following his
compassion!! Again we see a great example of this in Luke 7:12-15 “Just as He
drew near the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried
out-the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large gathering from
the town was accompanying her. And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion
on her and said to her. Do not weep. And He went forward and touched the funeral
bier, and the pallbearers stood still. And He said, young man, I say to you
arise. And the man who was dead sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him
back to his mother.”
What an awesome example of compassion!! Jesus saw this woman, he was moved with compassion for her and He raised her son from the dead! Can you imagine this woman’s surprise, her joy, her elation! The miracle working power of God brought her son back to life! Jesus moved with compassion! Praise God!
Hallelujah! Praise God! The compassion that flowed through Jesus can flow through us! We have the ability, we have the responsibility as Christians, to be filled with compassion just like our Lord and Savior! And when we are filled with that compassion, we will respond to the need! Our compassion will be followed with action!!!
Jesus died for us on Calvary, He took our sins and our infirmities upon himself. He did this with love and compassion! He had compassion for a lost and dying world!!! The compassion of Jesus Christ for a lost and dying world demanded a response. That response, that action was Jesus going to the cross at Calvary. His death and resurrection freed us from sin and death. It freed us to follow in His footsteps!
Jesus’ ministry was the epitome (perfect example) of compassion. His ministry on earth was a reflection of our Heavenly Father! Our Heavenly Father is full of compassion! James 5:11 says “You know how we call those blessed, who were steadfast. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the Lord’s (purpose and how He richly blessed him in the) end, in as much as the Lord is full of pity and compassion and tenderness and mercy .”
What an awesome God we serve! James 3:17 says; “ But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled); then it is peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle). It is willing to yield to reason, full of COMPASSION and good fruits; it is wholehearted and straight-forward, impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering, and insincerity).
One of the other acts of compassion I witnessed was also while out of state. Driving through the country side I saw one field with many, many laborers. It was mid-day and unusually hot for that time of year. Working the fields is hot and tedious, even when the weather is mild! I noticed a little girl, going from one worker to another with water. What a selfless act of compassion! No complacency there, only compassion.
Each day presents new opportunities for us to have compassion as Jesus did. Opportunities for compassion come in many forms and fashions. Let us be aware of the opportunities that come our way, opportunities to bring the compassion of Jesus to the world, to our brothers and sisters in Christ, and to our families.
I went on this trip to be a blessing to others. I wanted to serve and help in any way I could. I always pray before a trip that God would allow me to be a blessing to others along the way. Somehow always thinking along the lines of witnessing to fellow plane passengers or in the airports. But this trip the Holy Spirit impressed upon me the importance of compassion for my own family. Let us not forget compassion for our own families!
1John 3:17 says “But if anyone has this world’s goods (resources for sustaining life) and sees his brother and fellow believer in need, yet closes his heart of compassion against him, how can the love of God live and remain in him.”
Through out the scriptures, Jesus performed many compassionate acts. Raising Lazarus from the dead, the Centurion’s daughter and even speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well. Let us always remember to have the compassion of Christ!
Compassion is a reflection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and of our Heavenly Father! Compassion was an integral part of Jesus Christ ministry upon this earth. As disciples, as fishers of men, we to are to go out into the world bearing the compassion of Christ!
As we take this compassion, the compassion of Jesus Christ unto all the corners of the earth, let us always remember that our compassion demands a response! Just as Jesus’ compassion was followed by action, let our compassion be as His; so strong, so loving and so moved that we will impact the world with the love and compassion of Christ!
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