Compassion

I will confess that I become frustrated with folks who are believers, but lack compassion. I am sure we are all guilty of it from time to time; refusing to help others because we know they will not appreciate our efforts, or they may take advantage of our generosity, or because they could help themselves if they had a mind to. In Mark 6:34-44 Jesus’ apostles act the same way. “Let them go so they can buy something to eat.” These folks apparently had the means, but Jesus had compassion for them: “they were like sheep without a shepherd.” Many of those he healed would never say ‘thank you,’ but he healed them anyway. Most would be more concerned with being healthy than with being holy, but he healed them anyway. Some of those who asked for bread that day would cry for his blood a few months later, but he fed them anyway. Jesus had compassion on them…if we, as followers of Jesus Christ, are being formed into his likeness, shouldn’t we do the same? Seems to me we ought to allow God to judge them as to what they do with generosity, and to judge us for how we respond to the cries of the least, the last, and the lost.