The Power of Compassion

Some people view those who show compassion as weak and vulnerable.  Is such perception correct? Not at all!  The real force behind genuine compassion is deep love, which originates with God, the personification of that quality.  "God is love."  (1 John 4:16)   Jehovah is rightly called "the Father of tender mercies and the God of all comfort."  (2 Corinthians 1:3)  The expression rendered "tender mercies" basically means "pity, compassion of the ills of others."  Why, Jehovah  "is kind toward the unthankful and wicked"! - Luke 6:35.

Our Creator requires that we too show kindly qualities, such as compassion. We read at Micah 6:8:  "He has told you, O earthling man, what is good.  And what is Jehovah asking back from you but to exercise justice and to love kindness?"  At Proverbs 19:22, we read: "The desirable thing is earthling man is his loving-kindness."  God's Son, Jesus Christ, who perfectly reflected the personality of his Father, similarly admonished his followers:  "Continue becoming merciful, just as your Father is merciful." (Luke 6:36)  The Jerusalem Bible renders this exhortation: "Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate."

There is good reason to be like that, since compassion has the power to bestow rich rewards.  We often see the truth of what is written at Proverbs 11:17:  "A man of loving -kindness is dealing rewardingly  with is own soul."  When we show compassion to someone in need, God considers this a favor done to Him.  He assumes the responsibility to repay kindness for any compassion his worshippers show.  King Solomon stated under inspiration:  "He  that is showing favor to the lowly one is lending to Jehovah, and his treatment he will repay to him."  (Proverbs 19:17)  And Paul wrote: "You know that each  one, whatever good he may do, will receive this back from Jehovah." -Ephesians  6:8.

Compassion has the power to maintain harmony and to contribute to the resolving of conflict or friction.  It helps to clear up misunderstandings, and it paves the way for forgiveness.  Misunderstandings may occur because we do not always express our thoughts or feelings as we wish we had, or our actions might be misinterpreted.  Here compassion comes to the rescue and helps to preserve peace.  It is easy to forgive a person who is known for being compassionate.  Compassion  helps us to measure up to Paul's counsel for Christians: "Continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freely if anyone has a cause for complaint against another." -Colossians 3:13.

Next time: Compassion -Sympathy in Action

The Watchtower, 2007