The Gift of Compassion

Author: Jarod Brooks

Acts 20:35 NIV—In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work, we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

These are some of the final words that Paul delivered to the elders of the Ephesian church before he left them to set sail for the Island of Kos. Before he left, he wanted to summarize his ministry by drawing their attention to how he performed his apostolic work among them.

One might consider this final request that Paul makes to the Elders to be redundant. They were church elders. Of course, they knew to be compassionate towards the less fortunate. This consideration reminds me of how often we might hear a Bible story or a scriptural passage on any given Sunday morning and feel our attention slipping away from us because we’ve listened to that particular story or passage before. Sometimes, we tell ourselves that we know this story already and can tune out and look forward to the next lesson.

However, if we look at 2 Peter 1:12, scripture teaches us that it is always good to be reminded of these things and that we are firmly established in the truth. In light of that, Paul is simply reminding and urging the elders not to be so forward-thinking and focused on the mission that they fail to see those in need right before them. How often do we need that same reminder to take time, stop, and give to those in need? This is what compassion is all about.

The word “compassion” comes from the Latin word “compati” which means to “suffer with.”

Showing compassion to someone means being present with them in their difficulties. When we bear the burdens of others, it’s then that we can fully understand what Jesus meant when he says that to give is better than to receive. He was making an unequivocal statement about the value of giving.

Undoubtedly, one of the greatest gifts we can give someone is—ourselves! When we give of our time, focus, efforts, or affection, it is then that we are giving our very selves. We are most compassionate when we are meeting them wholly in their mess.

In the book of Romans, Scripture tells us to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. This is compassion at its finest.

Don’t be discouraged! If you find compassion hard at times, you might be doing it right. After all, Paul does call it “hard work.”

Reflection

Who are some of the people in your life who could benefit from the gift of compassion this week?