I was thinking this morning about the seeming coldness of so many people. Even those who are so-called “social justice warriors” are, when you come right down to it, often in it for themselves. They have a social agenda they want to accomplish-whether it be racial, environmental, lifestyle, or even religious. Instead of truly caring for people, many “front” their agenda with fake concern, fake activism. Whether it be for money, fame, a name, or an agenda, they truly don’t care for others.
How different from what the Bible says is true caring. Just a couple of Scriptures show that. Before I do though, let me add this: there is a big-no make that gigantic-difference between sympathy and empathy. Sympathy says, “I’m sorry” but does nothing. It reminds me of that annoying boy in Polar Express who says, “I’m sorry. I really am” but you get the feeling of “not really.” Empathy, on the other hand, truly feels sorrow but then does two things: 1) puts oneself in their place; and 2) does something about it.
Now for the Scripture…and trust me when I say no commentary will be needed. In I Corinthians 12, after speaking about how each member of the body-hand, foot, ear, eye, nose-need each other, Paul concludes with these words: “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” (verse 26 in ESV).
The other Scripture is found in James 2. James discusses favoritism (rich vs poor) in the church assembly by giving favored seats; partiality in morality (overlooking one sin for another sin); and then he hits my point: “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (Verses 15-17 in ESV)
No racial, environmental, or social agenda. Just a faith agenda: one where feet are put to our faith. Empathy, not just sympathy, is the calling card of a life of faith.
I’ll take that faith agenda any day of the week, Bill. Let us love others as Jesus loves them and us.
Blessings!
As will I Martha. And letting others know Jesus loves them is crucial.
I believe that you have to align yourself with Christ daily, and surrender daily, because on our own we fail over and over again. When we live for Christ we see things through His eyes and we have empathy, and we are happy to serve and make a difference. Granted we will not be successful every day or in every situation, our attention span can be short and get distracted easily. If you start your day surrendering to Christ, and ask Him to help you to serve Him and His kingdom, God will lead you to help Him out. You will not miss every opportunity that God presents you with, if you are faithful in wanting to live for Christ. God will make sure you are successful in serving others, so that you are hungry for more.
it is a daily surrender Gail. One that is so hard to do at times. But the issue is that if we fail to surrender daily it is so easy to get lax. Faithfulness comes from keeping an eye on Jesus every day.
So much truth here, Pastor Bill. We can surely be the answer to someone else’s prayers and even our own prayers for them many times and be the supplier of what they need. And true charity never announces itself. These so-called social justice warriors make me plumb sick to my stomach. Jesus never touted what He did for people and neither should we. When I hear them going around bragging about their benevolence, I know it never came from the heart and was done for all the wrong reasons.
I’m most certainly inclined to agree with you Cheryl. Announcing charity or charitable giving just strikes me wrong.