The Heart of God Towards the Poor and Sufferingনমুনা

Why do we help others? Is it because we have to, or because we want to? Is it because we feel sorry for others or is it because we genuinely want to help change somebody’s life? Maybe it’s all of the above. There may be many more motivating factors, but the one underlying reason we help others is because every human being was made in the image of God and by very nature, God is a compassionate God. He loves others. In fact, the very fact that God exists in a trinity demonstrates the fact that God is “others-centered.”

God is not self-centered and when He created man, He created him with the same qualities of love, compassion, mercy, and empathy as Himself. These characteristics were given to humanity to empower us to take care of each other. We are our brother’s keeper because God designed each of us with the innate desire and capacity to serve one another.

The Christian who has been set free from sin and its selfish desires has the capacity to be the most compassionate of all because he has been reconnected to the heart of God. He should feel and express the love of the Father for the orphan, the widow, the poor, the hurting and the suffering.

God’s Spirit is others-centered. Jesus Christ exalted the Father and brought Glory to His name. As Christians, this is our same purpose and reason for being, to glorify God on the earth. We do this by loving God with all of our heart and soul and by loving our neighbors as ourselves. This is how Jesus summed up all of the law and the prophets. The very essence of all of scripture comes down to this: loving others as we love ourselves. This will mean making sacrifices and surrendering rights. It means that we will extend ourselves for others the same way Christ extended Himself for us. It means that we will go when it is inconvenient but necessary. It means that we will love unconditionally and we will not judge our neighbor. It means that we will walk in wisdom and humility before God acting justly at all times. It means that we become Christ on earth. We share kindness, we share compassion, we share generosity, and ultimately Christ gives life.

What in you motivates you to action?