Pity

Most of us have helped the poor at some time in some way. A hungry person needs food. The local mission is setup to provide meals and lodging for a time. Every time we give unto the poor we give unto the LORD. Sometimes we give money that is used for drugs or alcohol and it is as if we were giving to the devil, but the LORD loves a cheerful giver.

Pro 19:17  He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

Pity: to be gracious, to show favor. Isn't this what God has done for us through Christ Jesus? We were forgiven much and given grace, so we are required to forgive others their trespasses.

Mat 18:32  Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 

Mat 18:33  Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
Mat 18:34  And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
Mat 18:35  So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

To have pity on the poor is to lend to the LORD. Every kind deed will be rewarded.

Mar 9:41  For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

 Mat 23:14  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. 


Mat 25:40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 

Do not give to be rewarded by men, but give to be rewarded of the LORD, from a heart of love as if giving to the Lord.

Compassion

Mar 6:31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
Mar 6:32 And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.
Mar 6:33 And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.
Mar 6:34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

Joh 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Joh 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Jesus had compassion, something we all need.

compassion: moved with love and pity

Love must be shown in a positive way. Jesus was moved with compassion for  the hungry multitudes and miraculously fed the five thousand with loaves and fish. Pharaoh's daughter had compassion on baby Moses, a Hebrew child who would become the one to deliver his people. There is the parable of a man with a great debt that he could not pay and the master forgave it. The same man had no compassion on a man who owed him a much smaller debt. This is how we sometimes are to others. Our sins were forgiven, a great debt that we could not pay, but we cannot forgive someone who offends us. The master says that we must forgive others or we will not be forgiven. The good Samaritan had compassion on the wounded Jew and took care of him. The prodigal son took his inheritance and wasted it ending up in a pig pen, starving. He could have been rejected by all, but when he repented and returned to the father to be a servant, the father ran to meet him and restored him as his son with a banquet and great honor. His brother was angry at the prodigal brother. Sometimes we see people who do bad things and we are angry when God has compassion on them. We do not want to let them forget their past. We are to forgive and to love them.

Jud 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jud 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
Jud 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Lam 3:22 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
Lam 3:23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Jesus had compassion on us, forgiving us, blotting out our sins because he loved us. We are to care about others and to do the right thing. It is God working through us that makes a difference. Let us be the compassion of Christ as we see the need.