Compassion is a selfless act of kindness. In order to be compassionate, we need to focus on others and not ourselves. We need to be able to see the pain, suffering, loneliness and general needs of another person from that person’s perspective. We may not think the situation that is disparaging to another is so bad, but we are able to see it from his/her perspective. Compassion requires us to listen and be present when someone else is hurting. Compassion does not judge another for his/her feelings. Compassion is showing kindness by supporting another.
Compassion is a characteristic of God and is manifested in Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. Psalm 103:8
Since God is a compassionate God, we need to learn from Him about how to be compassionate. Several times in the New Testament, it is recorded that Jesus had compassion on the crowds thereby healing them and feeding them (Matthew 14:14-21, Matthew 15:32-39, Mark 6:34-44, Mark 8:1-9, Luke 9:12-17, John 6:5-13).
When Jesus fed the 5,000, he had just heard that his cousin, John the Baptist, had been beheaded. He had gone with His disciples across the lake probably to grieve and get some much needed rest. However, when they had arrived, a crowd was there to meet Him and they had brought their sick to be healed. Even though Jesus probably didn’t want to personally speak to a crowd at that point of time, it is recorded that He had compassion on them. Therefore, He healed their sick and then performed a miracle by feeding them all with just five loaves of bread and two fish.
God is the father of compassion. He knew we would have times in life that are difficult. During those times, God shows us compassion and encourages us. We then are able to follow His lead. As He showed compassion and encouraged us when we went through a difficult situation, we then are to pay it forward and show others compassion and encourage them as God did for us. In fact, having compassion is mandated by God.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3 & 4
The word of the Lord came to Zechariah: Thus says the Lord of hosts: Judge with true justice, and show kindness and compassion toward each other. Do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the resident alien or the poor; do not plot evil against one another in your hearts. Zechariah 7:8-10
To show compassion toward another, one must have a tender heart, not plotting evil against another in our hearts. In other words, we need to have a soft and not a hard, callous heart. Part of having a tender heart is making sure it is pure. We can ask God for a pure or clean heart. Consider what the Psalmist wrote: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me (Psalm 51:10). Not only is the Psalmist asking God to purify his heart, he is also asking for a spirit of consistent faithfulness and service to God and the opportunities God presents to him. This is compassion at its finest.
A person who has developed a compassionate heart is in tune with God’s will, not only for her/himself, but for others as well. A godly, compassionate person looks at another and can see the suffering behind the mask the person has put on. The compassionate person is able to listen and just be present for another, without judging. S/he loves the person because s/he is a child of God – simply that, and nothing more.
Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. Ephesians 4:32
Photo credit: Greater Good in Education. 2022. https://ggie.berkeley.edu/student-well- being/kindness-and-compassion-for-students/
