Too Compassionate?

It's hangin' on when your heart has had enough
It's giving more when you feel like giving up
(Martina McBride)
 
Have you ever cared so deeply for someone that it hurt? Have you ever poured your heart out to God, begging on behalf of someone else that He would step in and provide a way? Even if that person rejects your offers of prayer or help, or turns their back on you, or completely ignores you or acts as if you don't exist - you still lift them up day after day, week after week, tear after tear falling for them?  

Compassion.

Definition:
Deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it.


Is there such a thing as TOO MUCH compassion? Is it possible to be TOO compassionate?


What does the Bible say about compassion?


"Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn."
Romans 12:15

"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble."
1 Peter 3:8

"Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering."
Hebrews 13:3

"Therefore I said, "Turn away from me;
let me weep bitterly.
Do not try to console me
over the destruction of my people.""
Isaiah 22:4

"Oh, that my head were a spring of water
and my eyes a fountain of tears!
I would weep day and night
for the slain of my people."
Jeremiah 9:1

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
Galatians 6:2

"So that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."
1 Corinthians 12:25-26

"When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven."
Nehemiah 1:4

"Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth
and humbled myself with fasting.
When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
I went about mourning
as though for my friend or brother.
I bowed my head in grief
as though weeping for my mother."
Psalms 35:13-14


Obviously compassion was felt by those from Genesis to Revelation, and is still felt by people worldwide today. Compassion is an emotion that God instilled in us. He commands us to love our neighbor as ourself. He wants us to feel the pain of others and share their burdens. When we act on our compassion and empathy, we are viewing people and situations through God's eyes. So if we open our hearts to the sufferings of those around us, despite the pain it causes in our own lives, we are becoming more like Christ. If we feel such compassion towards others, imagine how much more compassion Christ has towards us... so much so that He gave His LIFE!  Yes, being compassionate can cause us grief and tears. Yes, compassion can be a painful emotion. We will never be able to show as much compassion toward our fellow man as Christ showed for us, so there is no such thing as too much compassion or being too compassionate.

Reach out to those in need around you. Show them that someone cares. Let your tears fall if they must. God is right there beside you ready to shoulder the burdens and help you to help your neighbor through their struggles.