In Matthew 19, we read about a rich man who approaches Jesus with a question about how to achieve eternal life. In response, Jesus tells the man to sell everything he owns before following him.
This directive can be hard for us to read. The man had possessions, but it seems he was not stewarding them well. His possessions were a stumbling block, and Jesus knew it would be better if those possessions weren’t there to impede the man’s spiritual life.
One lesson we can draw from this is that it matters both how we steward our resources and what motivates us as we manage them. Perhaps the main driver of our generosity ought to be compassion.
In the New Testament, we constantly read that Jesus had compassion for the people He served. In Matthew 9, we see that Jesus had compassion on them because they were like “sheep without a shepherd.” Jesus saw the hurt and the helplessness of the people and was motivated to do something.
The English word “compassion” stems from the Latin compati, which means “to suffer with.” Jesus was attentive to others’ suffering—so much so that he added it to His own. Similarly, as we walk with Christ, we aim to be observant of the situations of those around us. As the apostle Paul commands in Galatians 6,
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you fulfill the law of Christ.”
This is obviously easier said than done. We are surrounded by people who have needs, which forces the question: How can our hearts be big enough to show Christlike compassion to all who need it? Admittedly, there are no easy answers. But as we contemplate how to be more compassionate, here are three suggestions.
1. Think Eternally
The message of the gospel transforms the way we manage our resources. All our financial decisions are filtered through the reality that the present world is fleeting. As a result, compassion will sometimes lead us to set aside financial logic because we see the bigger picture regarding a need in our midst. We may, at times, make what the world would call a foolish decision as we aim to follow Jesus’s example.
2. Commit locally.
Christians are called to be part of a local church. It’s key, then, to financially commit to our local churches. Nearly every church allocates part of their budget to meet the needs of those in the community. When we give to the local church, we’re combining our resources with other like-minded believers to show compassion at an exponential level.
3. Engage globally.
Our compassion should extend even beyond our visible landscape. We have brothers and sisters in Christ around the world—and who are here in the United States from around the world—whom we can bless with the resources at our disposal. Being mindful of the global body of Christ will help us practice compassion in even more robust ways.
The prayer of Lamentations 3:22–23 is one that should inspire us:
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (NIV).
