Hello All,
(Just a general disclaimer that I must insert here at the beginning. I am but a lay person, like most of you. And these weekly “thoughts” are but my own. Not the definitive word on this or any topic. Just my own conclusions derived from my own study and faith in God. The greatest hope I have for these weekly “thoughts” is to have them be a springboard for further study on your part. Not to be a weekly treatise to be blindly accepted. So, please read them with this intent, this motive in mind).
This week’s lesson from “The Adult Sabbath School Guide” is titled “To Love Mercy”. The Greek definition of “mercy” is more akin to “compassion”. And here is where much of what we call “mercy” is not. “Mercy” is really “suffering with” the one who suffers. Much of what we sinners call “mercy” or “being merciful” has little to do with compassion. To us sinners, “mercy” means more our actions, regardless of our inner motive. But to God, “mercy” is intimately connected with our motivation. And so we are caught again. What God desires and what we have learned to desire, we are incapable of providing. All that we can give in terms of “mercy” is outward conformity. But without the heart motivation, “mercy” has little value. Because the ones to which we are merciful must know that we genuinely care for them. That our actions stem from care for them.
I’ve had unsolicited Bible visitors, from other faith-groups, come to my house before. I must admit that I admire their dedication and their courage. But I also know that the reason for their visit has little to do with compassion for me. Because they do not know me. They just come to my door, assuming that I do not know God; that I have a great lack and that they are here to fill that lack. For some who come to my door, they come because their church requires it. For all this, what I receive at my door is not real “mercy” at all. This is a lesson for us. How can we keep our God-inspired acts of mercy real (this assumes we already each have a vital on-going relationship with our God)?
The answer is deceptively simple. We intuitively know it. We saw it demonstrated by Jesus. He did not save people in groups or by theological persuasion. “The Savior mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me.’” (Ministry of Healing pg.143). And here is the solution. We, too, need to come alongside others and get to know them. Then we will know how best to assist and to help… how best to reach them. How best to have true “mercy”. Often what people really need is not what they initially think they need or what they ask for. Getting to know them will win their trust and friendship, and this can be their greatest unspoken need. To be truly “seen” and truly cared about. People need people who will “suffer with” them… or “have mercy”. And if they need more, by getting to know them we will understand that true need, too.
As we drive out of the Wal-Mart parking lot, we see someone standing at the entrance soliciting for money or for help. And as we stop and hand them a five dollar bill, we may think we have had mercy on them. Or maybe they are soliciting for food… they are hungry. So you drive to McDonald’s and buy a burger or two and hand it to them. This is better, you think. This is real mercy. Not so. Real mercy would stop and get to know them as people. To really understand them. To really listen to them with hearts of love. Love, so that how-to really help can be known. Often the stated pressing need is not really the pressing need. But this cannot be known from reading a sign they carry or from merely asking. You need to first stop and get to know them. As the children of God they are.
This is harder. Messier. Not efficient. After all, we’re busy people. But it is God’s way. And it needs to be our way, too. A quick “5-spot” or a burger is not mercy. It is merely a way of making ourselves feel better. It is meeting our needs, not their needs. Not so unlike the white-shirted young door-to-door evangelists mentioned earlier who come to my door for their own sake. And definitely not like our God of love that we claim to worship. May we learn the lessons of mercy from our Lord. And then be available for His leading. Remember, mercy is all-about the other. And we must “suffer with” the other before we can know how to reach them. We must do it God’s way. The method must match the mission.
With brotherly love,
Jim