Empathy,Compassion and Humility

A lovely 20 something young woman once proudly told me that she has no problem telling people, “this is the way it is going to be.”- because she just doesn’t “feel” that deep about things so sometimes she insults people. 

Wow.  I suppose that will change with maturity. Age isn’t necessarily a sign of maturity, but you do have to learn empathy, humility and compassion to be a mature Christian. You really will never fully understand someone else’s pain, sadness or suffering until you can “feel deeply”. Without feeling deeply how can you know empathy or compassion? Without empathy and compassion how can you be humble?

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience… Colossians 3:12

Empathy comes from the Greek word empatheia and the en, “in” pathos as in feeling.  The World Dictionary defines empathy as, “The power of understanding and imaginatively entering into another person's feelings”. Having this skill will certainly make it easier for you to have compassion. 

Other words for Humble are unpretentious or unassuming; I think these words are a good description of someone that I find humble.

Someone that shows humility will remove themselves from their own desires, egos and mind long enough to feel empathy & compassion for others.

My take on this is;  you can have empathy without compassion, you can have compassion without empathy, but you cannot have either without humility.  Jesus should be our example; with humility he showed empathy by healing and raising the dead, with humility he showed compassion by forgiving.

Compassion

“A deaf man with a speech impediment was brought to him, and the people begged Jesus to lay his hands on the man to heal him.

³³ Jesus led him away from the crowd so they could be alone. He put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then, spitting on his own fingers, he touched the man’s tongue. ³⁴ Looking up to heaven, he sighed and said, “Ephphatha,” which means, “Be opened!” ³⁵ Instantly the man could hear perfectly, and his tongue was freed so he could speak plainly!” Mark 7:32-35

Empathy

“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 The Law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” John 8:4-5

 7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” 8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. 9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. 10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” 11 “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” John 8:7-11

Humility, letting yourself get out of your own way so you can feel deep enough to care about others. I don’t know about you but I think that’s a really good way to live my life.