Compassionate Giving

‘..So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity;

for God loves a cheerful giver.’ II Corinthians 9:7

It may be hard for you to receive this teaching because you think there’s nothing wrong with feeling sorry for some one; I mean Jesus felt sorry for people didn’t He? Nope!

Matthew 15:30, 32 says, ‘The great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus’ feet, and He healed them…Jesus [said] I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.’ Jesus didn’t feel sorry for these people; He had compassion on them. So much so, that it led Him to feed them.

Luke 10:30-37 tells us of a man that was beaten and robbed. Verse 33 and 34 says, ‘But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds…’ The Samaritan didn’t feel sorry for the man; he too had compassion and it led him to care for him. Compassion in Greek means ‘tender mercy or inward affection.’ So when you see the words tender mercy throughout the Bible; know instantly that it means God has compassion towards you. Compassion should move you to act; not sorrow, grief, or sadness.

But remember, there are ‘staged acts of compassion’. You know what I mean by that? There are planned or premeditated opportunities for you to give that have been staged. They know you’re ‘supposed’ to be a Christian so they’ll present an opportunity to test and see if you’ll give. Like ole girl with my flips flops, don’t be fooled or pressured to prove your Christianity or compassion; give as you’re led by the Holy Spirit.

So the next time you see children in Sudan starving and your heart goes out to them, that’s the time to seek the Lord about what to do. Or when you see bad news reports; that’s the time to let compassion move you to pray that God would ‘redeem [their] lives from destruction, and crown [them] with [His] lovingkindness and tender mercies.’ (Psalm 103:4) God loves the fact that you’re a giver because that’s the side You got from Him. Now that you’ve got you’re giving on, make it a point to show some compassion today!

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