Hunger Mountain Christian Assembly
The Seven Pillars of Character - No. 4 Compassion
Mark 8:1-9 (NIV)
During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2"I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance." 4His disciples answered, "But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?" 5"How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked. "Seven," they replied. 6He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and they did so. 7They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. 8The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 9About four thousand men were present.
Introduction: I have been speaking to you about the “Seven Pillars of Character” taken from the book “The Elephant in the Room” by Robb Thompson. These pillars are those things that support character and give it strength to stand. The first pillar is “self-control, the second is “honor,” and the third is “honesty.” Today, I want to talk about “compassion” which is the fourth pillar.
What is compassion?
1. Robb Thompson says this of compassion: “Compassion is an attitude of care and concern, grounded in pity and sympathy toward others. It refers to the ability to commiserate with individual
who is going through difficult times.”
2. Dictionary: Deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the desire to relieve it.
3. Sympathetic insight into others feelings: sensitivity, empathy, concern, sorrow, pity.
Compassion is inseparable from the love of God.
1 John 3:17 (NIV)
If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?
It is commanded of us.
Jude 1:21-23 (NKJV)
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22And on some have compassion, making a distinction; 23but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
Jesus was a man of deep compassion and we must be also:
1. Help bring truth to people who are caught in self-deception and ignorance.
2. Help carry heavy burdens with which people are struggling.
3. Fight for the freedom of the oppressed and the protection of the innocent.
4. Offer the rescuing power of wisdom and truth to those who desire to escape poverty, dependency, and addiction.
5. Share our food with the hungry.
6. Provide hospitality to the poor and the outcasts of society.
7. Clothe those we find naked.
Conclusion: Jesus was a man of compassion and as His followers we must be also. To be without compassion leaves a person cold, unconcerned, and indifferent. This leaves us with deeply flawed character. Compassion must go beyond the feeling stage to the place where we do something about pity we have for someone. We must feed the hungry and clothe the naked. To be without compassion is to be without the love of God. Compassion for the lost will cause us to share our faith in Christ and our love for God. How’s your compassion quotient today? Today is the day to fill your heart. Don’t leave here without it.
Close: 1 Peter 3:8-9 (NKJV)
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.