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Compassion: Part 4
Allen Webster
Topic(s): Christian Life, Love
Links to this entire series:
Henry James said, “Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.”
Those who have wronged us need compassion.
A ladies’ Bible class teacher rushed in late for class and explained that on her way she had been pulled over by a highway-patrol officer. “How come you’re the fastest person on the freeway?” he asked.
“I teach a church class, and I’m late.”
“What’s the subject of the lesson?” he inquired.
Looking him in the eye, she replied, “Compassion.” He let her go with a warning. 1
Jesus taught us that we should show compassion to those who have wronged us. “Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt . . . Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?” (Matthew 18:27–33). Edward Bulwer-Lytton said, “A good heart is better than all the heads in the world.”
Joseph had compassion on his brothers, even though they had hated him, assaulted him, sold him as a slave, separated him from his father, and insinuated that he was dead. In spite of what had happened, he was compassionate to his brothers (Genesis 50:21). When they came into Egypt, over which he ruled, he could have said, “Ah, today is the day I have been waiting for. I can finally get even with them.” But he did not (Genesis 51:10; cf. Romans 12:10; Ephesians 4:32).
There are churches that would benefit greatly by having a couple of Josephs on their membership rolls, many that are torn asunder by unforgiving hearts (1 Corinthians 3:3). How can Christians hope to live together in heaven if we can’t live together on earth (cf. John 13:33–34; 1 John 3:15)? Eric Hoffer (American writer, 1902–1983) wrote, “Compassion is the antitoxin of the soul: where there is compassion even the most poisonous impulses remain relatively harmless.”
We must use our tongues with care (Proverbs 18:21). John Wesley and Augustus Toplady had a disagreement over a “minor matter of theology.” Toplady wrote a tract entitled “An Old Fox Tarred and Feathered,” in which he took Wesley to task. Though he later regretted it, it was impossible to completely undo what he had done. Like feathers thrown from a mountain, it can be hard to gather words that have been sown indiscriminately (cf. James 3:5). The next time you sing, “Rock of Ages,” note who wrote it. It was written by Augustus Toplady. Like Mr. Toplady, in a moment of weakness we can say or do something we will regret for a lifetime, even if we have had other great accomplishments.
Those who are different need compassion.
Baruch Spinoza wrote, “I have made a ceaseless effort not to ridicule, not to bewail, not to scorn human actions, but to understand.” We should have compassion on those who are different from us.
An event that occurred during World War I illustrates the compassion we should cultivate. In the heat of battle a German soldier, seeking shelter from enemy fire, leaped into a shell hole. To his surprise, he found an Englishman already there! After his initial shock, he considered what to do. Should they bayonet each other? His question was answered when he saw that the other man was severely wounded—so badly that the German felt compassion for him. He gave him a drink from his canteen. The man gave him a look of gratitude and indicated that he wanted him to open his breast pocket. He found an envelope with pictures of the man’s family. The man simply wanted to look at his loved ones once more before he died. In the English soldier’s last brief moments, the German soldier held up to him the pictures of his wife, his children, and his mother.
At first, the attacker saw only an enemy, but when he looked more closely, he saw a wounded human who loved his family. Jesus told of another man who went from Jerusalem to Jericho, who also found an enemy. But he, too, looked deeper and found a suffering man needing compassion (Luke 10:33).
How can that attitude grow?
First, we should see persons as individuals, not as member of a disliked group. Individuals are usually much more likable than a group we view with distorted prejudice. Someone said, “Make no judgments where you have no compassion.”
Second, we can recall times when we needed compassion. Jesus became a man and felt the things we feel (Philippians 2:1-5).
Third, we can imagine what we would need under similar circumstances—then apply the Golden Rule: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12). Abraham Lincoln said, “He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help.”
Fourth, we cannot expect too much at once (Ecclesiastes 7:8). Sometimes olives branches are knocked from our hands the first time we extend them. But if we’ll pick them up, shake off the dust, and extend them again with a smile, they may be taken. Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) wrote, “Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.”
Fifth, we can remember that we will one day be judged according to how we have helped others (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Corinthians 5:10). William Penn wrote, “If there is any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not deter or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”
Endnotes:
1 Stefanie Wagoner