Compassion is a feeling of sympathy and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others. Compassion motivates us to go out of our way to help others. The etymology of “compassion” is Latin, meaning, “co-suffering.” In other words, we are feeling for someone else and we are suffering with them. Sympathy would be the first part of compassion. We feel sorry for a situation someone is in. We pray for them, we think about them and what they must be going through. With real compassion, we take the next step into empathy. Empathy takes us to the level of feeling what our friend is feeling. With empathy, we are hurting for our friend. Compassion involves both sympathy and empathy. True compassion is active. It sees a need, feels the pain, and acts to try to eliminate the pain of another.
This friend is a rare breed! They not only share the good times with you, they hold on tight during the bad times. A compassionate friend truly bears your burden. When we are compassionate we will be moved to alleviate or try to prevent the pain of others.
Compassion will involve patience as you go through a painful situation with a friend. There will be times all you can do is be there for them. It will involve wisdom. Real wisdom comes from God.
James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
Compassion will evoke the qualities of kindness and perseverance. While sympathy responds with sorrow and concern compassion responds with warmth and care.
In Exodus chapter 2, Moses had been placed in a basket by his mother and sister. All the Hebrew boy babies had been ordered to be killed. In hopes that his life would be spared, he was placed where Pharaoh’s daughter would see him. The plan worked and in verse 6 she had compassion on him and took him to raise as her own.
Exodus 2:6 “And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”
In Psalms, four different times we are told that God is “full of compassion.” In Psalms 86:15, 111:4, 112:4, and 145:8.
In Matthew 20:34, Jesus had compassion on the two blind men and gave them their sight. He could have just spoken, and they would have been healed, but he touched them. I believe the touch showed more compassion than just a word. (Matthew 20:29-34)
In Mark 1:41, Jesus touched a person with leprosy. No one would touch a leprous person, by Jewish law, it was unclean to touch a leprous man. However, Jesus showed great compassion as He reached down and touched these men. (Mark 1:39-42)
In John chapter 11, Jesus shows great compassion for his friends. Lazarus had died, but that was not the problem. Jesus knew he would raise him from the dead, but Lazarus’ sisters did not understand. They were all weeping and even told Jesus, “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” Because of the sorrow Jesus saw in Mary and Martha, Lazarus sisters, his compassion overflowed into tears and in verse 35 we read the “Jesus wept.”
Over and over in scripture, we see the compassion of God and of Jesus as he walked on this earth. They are our examples in all we do. So, what does God say to us about this subject?
I Peter 3:8 “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:”
We are to have compassion for each other especially those friends that we share our faith with.
I John 3:17 “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?”
We are to show compassion by meeting our friends’ needs! If you can see a friend in need and do not try to meet it, you do not have God’s love within you!
Jude 1:22 “And of some have compassion, making a difference:”
True godly compassion will make a difference! This is our command from God. We are the hands and feet of God.
Are you seeking to be a compassionate friend? Do you put your feelings of compassion to action? There’s an old saying that I think fits here, “talk is cheap.” Without action, we can’t show compassion. Actions do speak louder than words and it is imperative we show real compassion to our friends. The world that does not know Jesus as their Savior should get a clear picture of the compassion of Christ, by the actions we have one toward another.
