There’s a show on History (you know, used to be the History Channel) called American Pickers. Now, I honestly don’t watch it all the time, but it is very entertaining.
I mean, just listen to the premise: two guys drive around in a van combing through barns, garages, and warehouses looking for treasures in a sea of hoarded items.
Okay, it doesn’t sound that amazing, but what makes it so great are the two guys who are so passionate and excited about what they’re looking for. They never know what they’ll find or even what they’re looking for entirely, but they love the thrill of finding that special treasure and bargaining with the owner to part with it.
I’ve decided I want to be more like this–but about people. I think there’s too much pity in the world and not enough compassion. We pity people for their hard childhood, their presently hard circumstances, their poor decisions… That’s not even mentioning that we often pity ourselves for much the same reasons.
These guys are passionate about seeing things not as they are currently or even what they were used for 50-100 years ago. It’s all about how these items can be cleaned up, repurposed, and made useful again. Â Their risks don’t always pay off, but it never dampens their enthusiasm.
Pity can’t do that. Pity won’t do that–because pity won’t even try.
God didn’t send us Jesus because He pitied us, but because He was passionate about us. Jesus didn’t heal, forgive, restore, and deliver out of pity, but because He had compassion and it always moved Him to change their lives. The more they hung around Him, the more their lives changed.
Likewise, Jesus isn’t building a Church that will pity the poor, blinded, broken, and desperate. We need to be passionate about how God sees them and us, never settling for a lesser vision.
- Pity says “Don’t expect too much. We know it’s been really hard.”
- Compassion says, “Get up! Take up your mat and walk.”
- Pity says “I’ll just try to make you comfortable down there.”
- Compassion says “There’s no reason you can’t come up here!”
Don’t get me wrong, I can’t change anyone and I won’t try. God has to do that, but He has a way of using those with hearts after Him. We get to be conduits of grace.
I’m tired of pitying a broken world full of hurting people. I want God’s compassion alive inside me to go out and find the treasures on the street corners, the grocery stores, the office buildings–and I want to allow God to touch my eyes so that I can see them the way God does.
I hope somebody’s with me today! What do you think? Care to add others to the list of pity says/compassion says?
36 Comments
With you for sure! Growing up my family owned an antique business so I really “get” this illustration. Pity is not empowering…Pity is crippling.
Michael recently posted..Brush Against My Face
Oh that’s cool. I think it’s so fun to walk through an antique store and see the history--fascinating. I agree with you about pity--thanks Michael.
Pity says, “Sorry you are hungry.” Compassion says, “Here let me get you something to eat.” There are more! Love this post Jason! Too, too many are living lives of pity.
Bill (cycleguy) recently posted..Pursuing Worship
That’s a great one. Thank you, Bill.
I looked them up. Pity is sorrow or sympathy, but compassion is sympathy “with a desire to alleviate” the cause of the sorrowful circumstance. So, pity may say, “I’m so sorry about your circumstance.” But compassion says, “I’m sorry about your circumstance, but there’s hope! There’s a way out!” The hope is the key.
Sarah Salter recently posted..The Stick in Your Hand
And in God, it’s a hope that doesn’t disappoint because it’s hard-won. Thanks Sarah.
Love these thoughts! Pity is not an expression of love. Compassion is love in action.
Dusty Rayburn recently posted..A Song of Degrees
Now we just have to live it! Thanks Dusty.
I’m with ya!! (Hey look, I left a comment..haha) Great post, Jason.
I’m glad Ginny! Thanks so much.
*Pity says “I can’t visit the sick because I am too sensitive to their plight, I can’t bear to see them like that.”
*Compassion says “I want to be here right by your side, helping you to live the best that you can!”
Great post.
Helen recently posted..WIthout Windows
Love that, Helen. Thank you.
I definitely agree. What I am slowly learning though is that although I have “seen the light” and see things from a different place, I wasn’t in that place 5 years ago and many others are not in that place or ready now.
Susie @newdaynewlesson recently posted..If You Want To Know Your Strengths And Weaknesses- Just Ask Your Friends
That’s the truth. We are not all in the same place, but we can lead by example. No one can be told to be compassionate, it has to derive from a desire within. Great thoughts. Thank you, Susie!
I think it also helps to remind yourself how you felt when you were in a different place and people tried to tell you things. If we remember what it felt like being on the other end, we might be less likely to “judge”.
Susie @newdaynewlesson recently posted..If You Want To Know Your Strengths And Weaknesses- Just Ask Your Friends
That also points to why Jesus said He only did what He saw the Father do. He knew where His compassion would be accepted and responded to. Interesting points! Thanks Susie.
Pity says: “You don’t measure up (ie, you suck)”
Compassion says: “You are dearly loved, you are mine.”
A great exercise bro’…thanks!
That’s a great one. Thanks Jay!
I want to be more compassionate and I do ask God to let me see the world as He sees it. I hope I recognize when He does allow me to see as He does. I don’t want to miss those times.
Good post
David Knapp recently posted..How To Store Treasure In Heaven
If only it were impossible to miss them, right? How helpful would that be! Thanks David. I want to see like He does too.
I love this, Jason. I’m right there with you.
I’ve actually been thinking about this a lot lately. Social justice seems to be in vogue these days in the world. But they can only address the symptoms. As the body of Christ we can address the disease which is the disconnect in understanding the ones hurting are worthy of more than pity, they deserve to know how they are as children of God. Do we want to give charity or see lives transformed?
Tony Alicea recently posted..Reborn All Over Again
Thanks Tony. I do believe some of these charities need to do what they’re doing and we need to support them--even for the simple fact that without them some of the poorest in the world would die before ever knowing anything different. We can give prayerfully and expectantly, knowing that God is going to produce something great out of it. And those around us will hopefully experience that deeper compassion of God as we respond to His love. Great thoughts. Thanks again.
awesome post! So true…pity is the easy choice -- compassion takes commitment.
mo recently posted..134- Hard Justice
Thanks Mo. I totally agree--commitment and lots of grace…
I’ve never seen American Pickers, but I sure love this post. It’s empowering. And it goes well with your series on The Hole in Our Gospel. I like what Mo said — pity is easy. Compassion takes work, energy, dedication…and God.
Michelle DeRusha recently posted..Neighborhood Brunch
It really is a great show, and thanks so much, Michelle. I missed out on yesterday’s discussion here at my place so it’s nice to carry it on today.
I love this post so much, I wish I had written it. (Not even kidding.) Great job, Jason.
Thanks Kat. I’ll take that as a very high compliment.
So good! Soo good!! I don’t even know what to add…so I won’t.
Melissa Brotherton recently posted..This page intentionally left blank
Thanks Melissa. You added encouragement for me--much appreciated.
What an AWESOME post! I’m going to pray about how to feature this message, Jadon, because it is must reading.
Anne Lang Bundy recently posted..Question of the Week- Why Do Christians Lie
Wow, Anne. You bless me! Thank you.
I’d so glad I didn’t miss this post!
This thought came to mind as I read. I think it works.
Pity is wallowing in the shallows with someone. Compassion is pulling them with you into the deep.
Ooh, I really like that. It’s like you’re a great writer or something!
Thank you Sandra. I love that picture.
great post, Jason! had Anne not re-posted it today….i would have missed it. undoubtedly, our Father wanted me to see it. He showed it to me the first time back in September in a Bible study. it was when Jesus was moving thru a large crowd and a woman touched the edge of His garment and was healed. He felt the power go from Himself and called out for the one that had touched Him. what struck me was that He was never oblivious to those around Him. this is an area where i fall FAR short in.
i avoid people as much as i possibly can and have for a long, long time. preferring instead to remain in my own comfort zone. reading this post i ask myself, “whats the sense of learning all that i can about our Father and Son? why have the knowledge if i’m not going to use it for His glory? why receive His love there’s no one to share His love with? why bother being conformed or transformed? i’m really selfish!!!
all my studying is useless and worthless to Him….as long as i remain in the position that i’m in right now. even my blogs are useless to Him. you can’t see the forest when you’re in the trees. others can see that forest but you can’t. He is giving me a wake-up call but i keep hitting the snooze button. i take a step or two forward then turn around and run back. hot and cold. done this my entire life, it seems. …just like this with people as well.
i don’t much care for the word progressive anymore then i care for the word accountability. according to brother Nee, those of us sealed with the Holy Spirit are commanded to be progressive. we’re in a tide that’s always rising. if i don’t rise with it or go forward, then our Father will have to use someone else. i don’t want to fail Him…but in essence i already have. only for the fact that i am caught up with my own suffering.
i’m not sure…but i think the verse is in James 5:16???? (read it this morning) it speaks of confessing your faults to one another and being healed. i’m not looking for physical healing. would rather be spiritually healed and for His glory, not my own.
Wow, Bud. I hear your heart in this and I know the Father does too. You’re so right that we can get caught up in our things and what makes us comfortable or not, but Jesus lived a life of total submission. I know you’ve said you’ve struggled your whole life with this, but I believe when He opens our eyes there is an opportunity to live and walk differently. He who the Son sets free is free indeed. I’m praying that you walk in this anointing and revelation and though you stumble you will not fall, but He will lift you up on eagle’s wings as you wait on and run hard after Him.
Thank you, Bud. Your words have touched me very deeply today. Blessings in Jesus’ name…