Dear Friends,
There is an ancient legend about a monk who found a precious jewel.
A short time later, the monk met a traveler who said he was hungry and asked
the monk if he could share some of his provisions. When the monk opened his
bag, the traveler saw the precious jewel, and on an impulse, asked the monk if
he could have it. Amazingly, the monk gave the traveler the stone.
The traveler departed quickly, overjoyed with his new possession.
However, a few days later, he came back, searching for the monk. He returned
the stone to the monk and made a request: “Please give me something more
valuable, more precious than the jewel. Please give me that which enabled you
to give me this precious stone. “James W. Moore, Some Things Are Too Good
Not to Be True, p. 101.
Compassion is a quality that all of us could use more of. Jesus
renewed people with the power of compassion. In Matthew 15: 32 we read “Jesus
called his disciples to him and said, I have compassion for these people; they
have already been with me three days and they have nothing to eat. I do not
want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on their way.”
Now just earlier the disciples had urged Jesus to get rid of a
woman who was begging him to heal her demon possessed daughter. “Send her away,
for she keeps crying out after us,” the disciples urged Jesus. But Jesus had
time for her, just as he has time for anyone who crossed his path with a need.
Jesus was a man who was always moved with compassion (Matthew
9:36; 14:14; 20:32). The Greek word for compassion in these verses means “to
suffer with” which implies he cared so much, it physically affected him. That
is why when 4000 were camped out on his mountain doorstep, he couldn't just
send them away. They had a need, and he was willing to take the time to meet
that need.
Oftentimes we avoid becoming involved with people because we know
that we will be inconvenienced by addressing their need. It is easier to be
like those disciples and say: “Send her/him away.” “I don't have the time.” “I
don't have the resources.” “I don't have the ability.” “I don't have the
energy.”
We have all been there and done that. But Jesus reminds us that we
need to be aware of opportunities to be his hands, and feet, and to minister
with the heart of his love. Not only should we be aware of such needs, but yes,
we should even be looking for opportunities to minister compassion as we meet
those needs.
And unknown author has observed, “Some of our tears should be like
Christ tears-for other people’s troubles.” He never wept for himself. Let us
shed no more tears for ourselves until our sympathy with other people has
touched us and made us weep.”
Simply put compassion is your pain in my heart.
It is true, as often said that "Others will never care how
much we know until they know how much we care."
Yours in ministry,
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