Who Did You Pity?

[Catsmeow]

If He directs you to help out, then by all means, give him your coat and feed him.

That sounds more like me. If I see someone hungry, I feed them.

I was once very poor and hungry and remember those days. It goes along way for us to remember the poor.

All I do know is what Proverbs says: The generous man himself will be refreshed; his children will never beg for bread.

So sure...I believe there is a time to help out and anyone who comes to my door looking for food will find my cupboards are full.

[Tyler]

I always think of the man who layed at the rich man's gate, all the while dogs were licking his sores!!! Christ had pity and lots of it for people like these!

Only Christ Saves

[Catsmeow]

Someone mentioned Leah, Rachael's sister...who Jacob got "stuck with" instead of Rachael.

Notice how God blessed her abundantly with many fine sons, despite the fact that Rachael was cherished by Jacob.

I felt sorry for her; the bible suggests she had a visual impairment, like cross-eyes or something.

[Catsmeow]

I always think of the man who layed at the rich man's gate, all the while dogs were licking his sores!!!

I always wondered why the rich guy inside the gates couldn't at least throw out his leftovers to this poor soul.

I didn't understand that till I went to a 3rd World Country and saw how healthy shoppers just stepped over the bodies of the sick and impaired and kept on truckin'...

Funny, in some cultures, people seem to get immune to seeing other's suffer.

[WayneB]

The only people I have "pity" for are those that appear to have remained lost; those whose spirit will be separated from the Father for an enternity and dwell where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Yes, most of them were evil and did bad things. Pharaoh's stubborness and hard heart resulted in many people suffering BUT if they had a relationship with the Father, their suffering was short-lived. Pharaoh's suffering will go on for an eternity.

Now I did not say I had sympathy for them...there is a difference!

God Bless,

Wayne

[Catsmeow]

Semantics...in our culture, the word, "pity" seems to have a bad connotation but even the bible indicates that Jesus took pity on people.

Pity and sympathy are the same thing...it's feeling the hurt and pain of another person.

[WayneB]

Semantics...in our culture, the word, "pity" seems to have a bad connotation but even the bible indicates that Jesus took pity on people.

Pity and sympathy are the same thing...it's feeling the hurt and pain of another person.

You are right Cats...words mean different things to different people sometimes.

For me, compassion and pity are the same. Sympathy as I use the word is when I go beyond empathy and actually become an advocate for the person being in full agreement with their actions whatever they be.

I have compassion and pity for the inmates I minister to BUT I do not sympathize with them. One of the inmates I minister killed his girlfriend while he was in a drunken rage

[Catsmeow]

You seem to have it so "together" in having a balanced approach to looking at things from a godly perspective.

God is merciful. Yet, God is just.

I noticed God's mercy is often congruent to the degree of mercy we show other people.

Hence, I try to be as "merciful" to others as I can, knowing I need all the mercy I can get on judgement day, (lol).

I think it's so awesome you do prison ministry; God is using you mightily...no doubt.

It's one thing to acknowledge the due penalty for one's crimes yet to feel compassion for them at the same time.

The thief on the cross knew he deserved what was happening to him...yet, he pleaded that "This man (Jesus) had done nothing wrong!"

He knew the difference of paying the consequences of his actions and the unjust suffering of a righteous man, (Jesus).

Hats off to you for the awesome work you do!

[WayneB]

You seem to have it so "together" in having a balanced approach to looking at things from a godly perspective.

God is merciful. Yet, God is just.

I noticed God's mercy is often congruent to the degree of mercy we show other people.

Hence, I try to be as "merciful" to others as I can, knowing I need all the mercy I can get on judgement day, (lol).

I think it's so awesome you do prison ministry; God is using you mightily...no doubt.

It's one thing to acknowledge the due penalty for one's crimes yet to feel compassion for them at the same time.

The thief on the cross knew he deserved what was happening to him...yet, he pleaded that "This man (Jesus) had done nothing wrong!"

He knew the difference of paying the consequences of his actions and the unjust suffering of a righteous man, (Jesus).

Hats off to you for the awesome work you do!

Thank you Cats. Coming from you, your words mean a lot to me. I love and appreciate you sister.

God Bless,

Wayne