Compassion

Intro:

We are going to continue our series titles struggles.

This we will be talking about the subject compassion.

If I was to ask you how compassionate you are on a scale of 1-10 what would you say? Remember, no lying-in church!

In bible school I took a spiritual gifts test and received a 0 on mercy, so for sure Josh asked me to speak because I am such an expert.

Let’s think about this for a moment, It is clearly harder to walk in compassion these days because we’re exposed to more info, more random & horrific things than ever before & more often!

Illustration:

The University of Michigan did a comprehensive study on 14,000 college students between 1979-2009 and it showed a sharp decline in empathy during that span!

IN FACT: WE Apparently CARE 40% LESS THAN PEOPLE DID IN THE 1980s.

Who knew that the 80’s were so full of compassion

This drop in compassion coincides with the rise in media and tech!

Colossians 3:12a Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion

HOW DOES TECHNOLOGY CAUSE US TO CARE LESS?

We’re more obsessed with ourselves.

Social media increases the amount of dopamine released into the body.

How many selfies does it take?

Overwhelming exposure to suffering desensitizes us.

Think about it: On your social media in 1 minute of scrolling you’ll see: A Recipe for guacamole, a football player, Someone who lost a job, a link to a cat video, someone who’s loved one is sick, someone complaining about their kids and a reporter being beheaded.

This can cause us to believe these should carry the same weight

Lack of personal interaction makes it easier not to care.

It’s way easier to ignore suffering from a distance!

Getting involved in others life requires getting your hands dirty and risk

LET’S NOT JUST TALK ABOUT IT, LET’S BE ABOUT IT!

TRUE COMPASSION DEMANDS ACTION.

Matthew 14:14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

Matthew 20:34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

TO SAY YOU CARE BUT NOT ACT IS TO NOT CARE AT ALL.

Mark 1:40-41 NLT A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. "If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean," he said. 41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. "I am willing," he said. "Be healed!"

The question is… Are you willing?

The More I obsess over the things of this world the more I care about me, myself & I!

Let me just mention this real fast. The book of James chapter 2 tells us faith that is all theoretical that doesn’t cause us to take action towards our fellow man is dead, demonic, and dangerous.

Demons have perfect theology, but they are not in right standing before God.

The closer I get to Jesus, the less I care about me and the more I care about other people!

Honest Question: Answer this on the count of 3… Have you ever felt like doing something for yourself more than wanting to do something for someone else? 1, 2, 3!

Three Characteristics Of COMPASSION

INTERRUPTS.

Mark 6 Jesus is resting, quiet place, couldn’t eat—saw crowd—taught.

Luke 8: on His way to heal dying girl—interrupted by woman sick 12 years.

Mark 2: Roof caving in while He’s teaching. He heals the Paralytic!

God often works in interruptions. He takes the interruptions & Inconveniences and uses them, if we have compassion!

Lets be honest, how many miracles did we miss being a part of because we were scrolling our phones.

COSTS.

Most of us want that drive thru compassion… We want to help out but just not too much!

But Compassion Costs!

Look @ the Good Samaritan—gives innkeeper 2 days wages!

Luke 10:30-37 (NIV)-The Good Samaritan- Tell the story

30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

This missions project at Open Arms is going to cost! I wonder if we’re willing and ready to count the cost to make a difference and have compassion.

CHANGES LIVES.

Listen: The Blind are healed, the hungry are fed, the naked are clothed and the broken are restored when we walk in compassion!

Compassion changes lives—The Life that is often changed the most is Yours!

Conclusion: Compassion Requires Caring!