Category Archives: Benevolence – Caring

In a previous post we considered why we need encouragement, concluding that we need help to maintain the qualities that enable us to live as lights in this dark world seen in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10. Verse eleven answers the question of “who?”

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

Who Needs Encouragement

The Apostle Paul wrote these words to the Thessalonian church which experienced hardships but nonetheless became a model to churches elsewhere (1 Thess. 1:6-7). He also wrote of his own suffering because of opposition against him. Throughout his epistle, Paul pointed the Thessalonians to the future hope of the coming of the Lord.

Though an evangelist and church leader, the Apostle Paul wrote of his own need for encouragement. No matter how we serve, or who we are, we all need encouragement. As Jesus reminded us, we will face trouble in this world. Notice His words of encouragement as He went on to say, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Jn. 16:33). Since we all live in in a world filled with trouble, we all benefit when encouraged by the hope we have in the One who overcomes.

In telling them to “encourage one another”, Paul reinforced the need everyone has for encouragement. The Greek word for “one another”, allelon, suggests a reciprocal effort. No one should have to face the hardships of life alone.

We Still Need to Encourage One Another Today

Though written to a specific church, these words still apply to us today because . . .

We still live in a dark and broken world filled with troubles that challenge us in our walk with God.

We continue to look forward to that day when the Lord will come and make everything right.

As followers of Jesus Christ, no matter who we are, where we live, or how we serve, we all need encouragement to brightly reflect the light of the Lord in our sphere of influence, in all we say and do, till Jesus comes again.

In a previous post we looked at why we should empathize with others, concluding that it is both biblical and pragmatic to do so.

Knowing we should do something doesn’t mean we will do it.

How to Better Empathize with Others

We need to intentionally take the following measures to be more empathetic, to truly mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice (Rom. 12:15).

Praying

• Ask God to build within you a heart of love and compassion that cares about other people’s feelings and opinions.
• Ask God for wisdom and discernment.  Don’t rely on your own instincts about people.

Observing

• Actually look at people in their eyes.
• Take note of people’s facial expressions, gestures, and overall demeanor … not just their words.
• Pay attention to what is happening in their lives.

Listening

• Let the other person talk and pay careful attention to what is being said.
• Do not be quick to jump in with advice or to share your experience.
• Work at developing your listening skills.

Asking

• Guard against assuming that you know what a person is thinking or feeling.
• Use clarifying questions when talking with someone to make sure you truly understand.

Recently I put up a two page document on Role Playing as a Bible Teaching Method in the MinTools.com store.  Having students role play a situation helps them develop problem solving skills but also empathy.  They must “put themselves in someone else’s shoes.”

Exercising empathy would help with much church conflict. 

When we look at a situation from only our own perspective or experience base, we risk assigning wrong motives or misinterpreting the feelings, actions, or reactions of others.

When we seek to put ourselves in their shoes, we gain an understanding that often helps us be more patient and supportive of others.

Scriptural Basis for Empathy:

The word “empathy” is not used in the Bible but verses do point to our need for it as we relate to one another.

1. God Himself empathizes with the people He created.

2. Jesus modeled empathy when he lived on this earth among people and continues to empathize.  Many verses point to His compassion which is an essential part of empathy, leading Him to do something about what He perceived.

3. Empathy is a part of walking in love as God loves.

4. Body Life demands we empathize with one another.

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. (Rom. 12:15)

5. Effectively reaching out to others requires us to put ourselves in their shoes.

An upcoming post will look at how to empathize.

Do you realize how blessed we are as Christians?  In Christ we are blessed “in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Eph. 1:3).

Truly, our cup overflows.

Someone has put it this way:
“I’m drinking from my saucer ’cause my cup has overflowed.”

Ways of Sharing from the Overflow

When it comes to sharing with others, even if we shared only from the overflow, we would have so much to offer others.  God fills our cup full and overflowing so we have something to share with others.

• We share from the overflow of our cup through fellowship with one another.
• We share from the overflow of our cup by serving one another
• We share from the overflow of our cup when we pray for one another.
• We share from the overflow of our cup when we give of our resources to meet a need.
• We share from the overflow of our cup when we tell others the Good News.
• We share from the overflow of our cup by comforting those who grieve.
• We share from the overflow of our cup when we encourage the discouraged.
• We share from the overflow of our cup when we express appreciation to those who labor among us.

Sharing from the overflow is not sacrificial giving.  The cup overflows because more than what it needs is being poured into it.  What I have found is that even when I share from the overflow, I am still drinking from the saucer because that is how much my cup has overflowed.