Weekly Thought – May 3, 2022
Fred recognized the need for a clear understanding of compassion. His reputation for clear thinking also acknowledged his proper use of healthy emotions. Ordinarily we excerpt writings on leadership, personal development, and business. These words on compassion will spur thought and conversation.
What is Compassion?
Compassion must be earned or else it becomes a substitute for grace, which it is not. To be compassionate toward immorality is to justify the immoral in all of us. Psychiatrists and psychologists who their goal of achieving a sense of being normal moves us away from the true goal of understanding redemption. It is critical for us to comprehend justification through sacrifice and grace. When we are told we are bigoted if we do not have compassion who do not deserve it results in intellectual dishonesty.
Unbridled compassion lets us accept the villain as long as he is personable, and so long as we are not his victim. The mobster Mickey Cohen was once asked by a youngster for his autograph. He inscribed it: “To Billy from a lonely old man.” He didn’t mention the fact that he deserved to be lonely and hardly deserved to be old.
We must not refuse to see there is a difference between a compassionate and a discerning heart.
Compassion is the realization of the havoc sin can bring, but not the excusing of the sinner. When we use our own sin to excuse every other sinner, then we are not bringing redemption at all. This is why it is so vital to accept forgiveness because it teaches us to grasp grace rather than sympathy.
In a very subtle way, sympathy becomes a revolt against authority, particularly scriptural authority. Oswald Chambers powerfully warns us about sympathizing with someone with whom God is dealing. He tells us to not get between God and that person. When we try to solve the problem, ease the pain, or make life better it makes God look unkind. We take sides against God.
The true function of compassion is to motivate us to lead the person to the source of healing – to God. I have been regarded as hard-hearted when I refused to bail someone out of a financial pit created by unwise decisions. What if I had short-circuited the lessons he was to learn? Generosity and compassion should be guided and instructed by wisdom and discernment.
This week think about: 1) How clear am I about the proper use of compassion? 2) When is it easier to be compassionate rather than dealing with the root causes and asking hard questions? 3) What do I need to do to deepen my understanding of Godly compassion?
Words of Wisdom: “Generosity and compassion should be guided and instructed by wisdom and discernment.”
Wisdom from the Word: “Indeed, if you call out for discernment – shout loudly for understanding.” (Proverbs 2:3 NET Bible)