Compassion: Not about the Cookies

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1NkXE21k5mF7SWwChVuVC_Q5jRlLRNHjrfqInj39kpN8/edit?slide=id.p1#slide=id.p1

Review of last week

Last week we talked about the Good Samaritan (though quickly) and we saw the K3 Drama club perform a wonderful play of “The Prodigal Son.”

We heard not only was it the enemy that helped the robbed man, but he also gave him more than he needed. We talked about how difficult that has to be.

In our play, we saw that even though the son spent all his inheritance. the Father rejoiced at his return, calling for a great feast. He showed love and compassion.

So, as we continue today let’s look at the definition one more time.

“Giving whatever is necessary to meet another's needs without expecting anything in return.”

Excited for helping others

You know, I am pretty good at that first part. I am usually excited about helping others or doing things for others.

I mean, I feel like this is a pretty solid definition of teaching here at Manorom right, “Giving whatever is necessary to meet another’s needs.”

I bet some of you do this everyday with your friends and family making sure they are taken care of.

Some of you are really really good at it. You go out of your way to make sure that people are taken care of. It is amazing and wonderful. It is generous and kind. It is

stupendous (DLC spelling word).

We need everyone to be like that to make this world a better place.

But it isn’t compassionate or for our DLC spelling list,

Altruism,

unless we also have that last part, “Expecting nothing in return.”

Altruism: : Describes the principle or practice of unselfish concern for the well-being of others.

How hard is that?!?!?

Cookies!!!

I struggle with this everyday. I have told the staff here, I told my small group back in Virginia, that when I do something good, I want a reward. I call it, “Wanting my cookies.” I want people to come up to me and say “good job,” or praise my name for the amount of work it took. I used to actively seek it out and ask more and more questions to even try to get them to tell me again and again how great it was.

I struggle with it now a lot!

I used to say, “this is how you motivate me to work hard.” You want me to be great at what I do, you have to compliment me and tell me I am great. I want my cookies.

But how should we respond.

Who is the standard

As always who is the standard?

Jesus did amazing things. Things far better than I could ever accomplish. We talked about it right? He healed the blind, raised the dead, and performed all manner of great deeds and time and time again he was praised. He was given cookies and yet he redirected all that praise to God.

“Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” (Luke 18:19)

“If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. My Father—about whom you say, ‘He is our God’—he is the one who glorifies me.” (John 8:54)

So Jesus himself, didn’t need

validation.

He understood that all actions, all thoughts, all deeds were for the father.

You know when you read something and you anchor yourself to it. You highlight or memorize something and make it apart of yourself?

I try to anchor myself to this

Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people,”

and though the context has changed, it is pretty clear. We are not here to please people. We are here to glorify God.

We shouldn’t need validation (DLC spelling word), but understand that all our actions and words are meant to glorify God. That should be the ultimate reward

the next verse in Colossians

Colossians 3:24 “knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ.”

But that is easier said than done right? Waiting for a reward requires so much more patience than the trophy, sticker, or praise we get right after our actions.

Trained to work hard for rewards

That is likely why we gravitate toward sports and competitions right? We may want the reward or someone to clap and tell us we did a good job. We may want a certificate to show we are the best. As with all things, it is about motivation.

It is simple behavior modification. We are conditioned that when we do something good, we get a reward right? A high five, a gold star, a certificate.

There is NOTHING wrong with this. There is nothing wrong with people encouraging you or motivating you.

But here is where the second part of compassion comes in.

When we are so conditioned to be rewarded for good behavior through material things, what happens when those rewards don’t come?

How do you feel when you don’t quite get that gold star or no one tells you how amazing you did on that test?

How do you feel when you have been nice all day, and no one has even noticed?

We start to get annoyed maybe even angry!

Seek

You may even go out and seek that reward. That is what I used to do. I would go and tell people what I did to get a “good job.” To place all the credit on myself.

OR

We bargain for it.

“I will clean my room (obey my parents), if I get to play xbox…”

“I will be nice to that person if they let me play with their new futbol”

I will ask them to play but only if they are on the other team…

OR

and here is the sad part, we simply stop doing it.

What is the POINT! Why should I try if I am not going to be immediately rewarded with a thing or with that person treating me the same??!?!?

Why could I be nice to my sister if she is not going to be nice to me?

Why would I give that stranger money when I want to buy a frappe? What is in it for me?

Why would I be nice to kids here at school when they have been mean to me in the past?

Why do I have to care, when THEY don’t seem to care?

Why do I have to suffer when THEY seem like they just get to enjoy life?

Compassion. Jesus said we should show compassion.

The definition can be a little tricky. Needs are food, water, and shelter, but also actively helping with “wise love.”

Wise Love?

Yes, it means that compassion isn’t a just feeling, but really understanding what will serve the other person’s good and then filling that need. Compassion is not sentimental or falling for emotional traps.

It isn’t feeling sorry when you see a sad video on youtube or instagram or tic toc and rallying to their cause.

It isn’t being trapped by this worldly need.

It is morale and it is always helping that person reorient or find God through love.

We are called to love everyone as Jesus did, and just as Jesus, we do it purely for the sake of God’s glory, not for ourselves.

As Arrow has said, time and time again, Jesus is the standard. It is such a difficult standard. All we can ask is that you try each day and maybe today, show a little more compassion for those around you.