Having compassion is an important part of our daily walk with Jesus. All it takes is a look around our society to notice the lack of genuine compassion. But what is compassion? How can we be a compassionate people when we do not even know the real meaning of the word? Compassion, according to the Miriam Webster’s Dictionary is a sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it. In the book of Jude, the Holy Spirit led the author to write, And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh (Jude 22-23). There is nothing more compassionate within the Christian faith than sharing the gospel of Jesus with those who are lost.
Having compassion without notice of men
True biblical compassion is not driven by a wish to be recognized or rewarded by others. Even in Jesus’ day there were those who were willing to show great compassion on others as long as they believed someone would notice their efforts. Jesus spoke openly to his disciples and all who were around listening: Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward (Matthew 6:1-2). Just what is the reward of those whose compassion is solely driven by their love of the Lord? Jesus taught on this very topic and used this example: Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just (Luke 14:12-14).
What Jesus is teaching here is that our compassion should not be limited to those who could do something for us in return. This is not true compassion as in the biblical sense. Jesus tells us to focus our compassion on those who don’t have the ability to do anything for us. Jesus tells us that our rewards will not come now, but will happen when we arrive in Heaven. If our having compassion was driven by our love for Jesus and for our fellow-man as a creation of God, then our reward will be reflective of the pureness of our hearts: For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works (Matthew 16:27) and I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings (Jeremiah 17:10). No matter what we may say to others what our motivation for demonstrating compassion may be, the Lord knows the real intent of our efforts.
Having compassion that will be acceptable to the Lord
Modern society has a dangerous, unhealthy, and unbiblical understanding of what compassion is. Biblical compassion is simply not writing a check and sending money to whatever charity is being promoted at the time. Television and the Internet are full of promotions by various stars and other famous people asking for financial contributions ranging from animal care to orphaned children in faraway lands. While it is noble to want to help, the scriptures are very clear where the demonstration of our having compassion must start: But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel (1 Timothy 5:8) and As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith (Galatians 6:10). Additionally, if we include the order specified for the sharing and spreading of the gospel, Jesus told the crowd of believers: And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:7-8).
