Read Luke 11:45
Where is The COMPASSION and Where Is The RELATIONSHIP?
As Jesus was confronting the Pharisees for their sins, one of the teachers of law spoke up and said, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.”
Jesus responds by saying to them, “Woe to you, teachers of the law, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.”
The teachers of the law imposed upon the people so many man-made laws and traditions, that it was impossible to keep all of them. They pushed these laws and traditions while showing no compassion for others for they didn’t lift a finger to help them.
What a drastic difference between them and Jesus.
1. Jesus was quick to show compassion versus condemning others.
2. Jesus was quick to build a relationship versus letting pride or arrogance divide him from others.
For example, Jesus loved the woman at the well who had committed adultery several times. He had compassion, and it drove him to try and engage into a relationship with her in hopes of pointing her to Salvation for the forgiveness of her sins. He wanted to help her versus condemn her.
The teachers of the law, on the other hand, refused to come alongside a lost person to help them in their time of need. They were quick to condemn.
And their arrogance caused them to look down on people versus engaging into a relationship with them.
What About Us?
CONDEMN Vs COMPASSION: Are we quick to show compassion for a lost person struggling or condemn them, thus forgetting that we too once lived in sin and needed rescued. Let us come alongside and encourage and pray for the lost and hurting.
ARROGANCE Vs RELATIONSHIP: Has pride entered our hearts so that we feel we are above others. It’s hard to engage into a relationship with others (especially with love and compassion) when we think we are better than they are. God called us to honor others above ourselves. Arrogance will keep us from doing so.
Choose Love. Choose compassion. Choose Relationship.
