emPower Compassion

There is so much hurt and pain in the world, in every country. Poverty is everywhere. Millions and millions of people are homeless, living in unimaginable poverty, and suffering. Many of these people die every day. Who is helping them? Who should help them?

I have always assumed I knew what the word compassion meant. I would hear people use it all the time and I thought I knew what the word’s meaning was when it would be used. It is just one of those words that gets thrown around that everyone “knows” exactly what it means. I knew that people needed to be compassionate towards one another. I just assumed this meant to care and be kind to one another. Which I guess it does… But it’s way more than just that…

The other day I decided to actually look compassion up in the dictionary for myself, just to see what it literally meant. The word compassion has a meaning that is much deeper than I ever thought. The dictionary states its meaning to be “to suffer with one another, and then have a strong desire to alleviate that suffering.” Look it up, it surprised me as well. Literally suffer with one another? That’s crazy… Isn’t it? I also read that it is a strong, deep feeling with and for others. That definition is a little nicer than the first. But let’s go back to the first one, the one that said suffering with one another. When we see people hurting and in need of help, we should be so moved, hurt, and torn up on the inside it is like we are sharing the same pain they have. If we have that sincere, heartfelt pain on the inside of us, then how can we just stand by and do nothing? It doesn’t make sense to not do anything. We should be doing everything in our power to help these people all over the world that are suffering EVERY day. People who are hurt… People who are homeless… People who are DYING right now as you read this blog.

1 Peter 3:8 says, “All of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous.”

Matthew 14:14 says, “And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.”

Jesus demonstrates, illustrates, and is constantly teaching compassion to people he comes in contact with. Showing compassion to those who are in need of it is a way to show God’s love for us through us. In chapter 3 of 1^st John it asks the question; how does the love of God abide in someone who does not help his brother in need?

People shouldn’t, and can’t just sit by while all the suffering is taking place in the world. We have to do something, anything to help. There are many nonprofit organizations that help this worldwide poverty and suffering crisis. Join causes, inform people, go on a missions trip. We can’t just sit by while there is so much pain in people’s lives. We need to show compassion. Share the suffering, and alleviate it.