Strange Compassion
Reading: Mark 10:17-23, 17As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 18"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. 19You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'" 20"Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy." 21Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 22At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!"
What do you think of when you hear the names Bernie Madoff, Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Bill Gates, or Hugh Hefner? Do you immediately think of them and have compassion? What about the former CEOs of Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac, are you overwhelmed with compassion for them as well? Men, one of the greatest challenges that we have is to break the extreme value that we place on the temporary because it goes against everything that the world tells us is important. The world even knows that it is easy to have compassion when we see flashes of impoverished children in third world countries. But, men, look at the names of the men listed above again, they, like the children of third world countries, have souls that are impoverished. The boss at work, who lives very comfortably and is out for only himself while you struggle to pay the bills, is impoverished. Are you able to see past the temporary and the glamour of today and have compassion? Yes, it is a strange compassion but it is even more difficult for these people to see their need for God, when they believe that they have no needs. This is not to encourage you to see the eternal needs of only the wealthy but to tear down the scales on our eyes of temporary values and see the eternal needs of those around you.
Men, how will you today, look around you and try to meet the eternal needs of those around you?
End of the Day Review
How did you meet the eternal needs of those around you today?
How did this alter your perception of people’s true needs?
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