To have compassion for someone is to feel "sorrow for their sufferings ... accompanied by a desire to help" (Webster). The opposite of showing compassion is to be harsh and unsympathetic when others are suffering. What are some Biblical examples of compassion?
It's been said that there is a right way and a wrong way to help those who suffer. If that's true, how do we know when and how to display true compassion?
Biblical examples of compassion ~
Many times, in the Old Testament, we read of the compassion of God displayed for His people. God is not only a God of righteousness, He is also a God of mercy and kindness. Instead of destroying Adam and Eve when they disobeyed in the Garden of Eden, He made a way for them to be restored to fellowship with Him. When God's people - the Hebrew children - disobeyed and rebelled against His laws, God continued to show mercy.
In Exodus, we also read about others who had compassion. For instance, the daughter of Pharaoh had compassion on baby Moses. Because the Pharaoh had ordered all male Israelite children under two years old be slain, Moses' mother had hidden him in a basket of woven rushes and daubed it with tar to make it water tight. She then placed a ventilated lid on the basket to hide the baby. After placing it the river Nile, she instructed Moses' sister, Miriam, to stand watch.
When the Egyptian princess came to the water to bathe, one of her maidens saw the basket and brought it to her. You may remember that when she opened it, Moses cried. Her heart was stirred with compassion and a desire to help hide the little boy, whom she recognized as a Hebrew child. Do you remember the first thing she did to help? She sent his sister Miriam to find a Hebrew woman to nurse the baby for her. The princess would adopt the child and raise him as her own.
As Moses grew up in the palace, he learned to walk and talk and dress like an Egyptian. However, he knew his people were the Israelites who served the Pharaoh. Moses often saw them beaten and mistreated by their Egyptian masters, and it bothered him a great deal. Later, he stepped in to protect one of the Hebrew slaves and ended up killing the Egyptian who was beating him. To avoid facing punishment or prison, he moved far away to the land of Midian.
Later, Moses was commanded by God to return to Egypt and lead the Israelites out of bondage. Over and over during his journey through the wilderness, Moses showed compassion on the people who followed his leadership. Moses prayed for them and asked God to show mercy on them, even when they were complaining and rebelling.
In the New Testament, Christ is the perfect example of compassion. Although He grew tired and weary, when the crowds came for healing, He was "touched by the feelings of their infirmities." We never read of Christ turning away those who came to Him for help.
There are other examples of compassion in the New Testament:
Dorcas was a woman who was well known for her sewing abilities and her compassion for others. She made many cloaks or coats for those who were too poor to buy them. When she died, Peter was called to the home and God miraculously restored her life.
Barnabus was a kindly soul who later joined up to travel with Paul on missionary journeys. The record we have of him shows that he was a generous man who contributed to the poor and stood up for those who were mistreated or neglected by others.
The father of the prodigal son - In Luke 15:11-32, the story of two sons is told. One took his inheritance and left home, spending it all with his wild living. When his money was gone and he was eating slop, he decided to return home and ask for a job on his father's estate.
"But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him." No doubt, the father had been watching for his return for a long time. Instead of criticizing him, like the other son did, the father showed compassion, instead.
How and when to show compassion ~
Sometimes it's easier to know when and how to show compassion. For instance, when someone's house burns down, it's not a problem to gather up clothing and blankets and food to help out. When a neighbor or friend has surgery, we prepare a casserole, a stew or something else to help while they are unable to help themselves.
At other times, it's more difficult to know how and when to show compassion. What if people are suffering as a result of making very poor decisions and choices? For instance, the alcoholic or drug user who wastes their money and has none left to buy food. What about their families at home?
Wisdom teaches us that giving money is not always the answer. Abusers have proven they cannot manage money wisely, and to give them more would be to help them buy more drugs and alcohol. There are other ways to show compassion, instead. We can take a bag of groceries to their home so the children will not go hungry. We can also offer them food in exchange for some yard work that needs to be done. If they seem willing to overcome their habit, we can make sure they get a ride to therapy. However, the greatest show of compassion is to introduce them to the Lord and Savior. He is their only hope for true joy in this life.
Reading about Christ and His earthly ministry can teach us how to show compassion. While He had all knowledge (He knew the real story behind every person who came to him for help), we do not have that gift. As we pray for wisdom to serve others, the Lord will guide us in showing compassion.