Daily Wisdom 04-02-2002 Compassion

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Compassion

In spite of many obstacles, history is replete with examples of people who have seen others in need and acted to meet those needs with courage and compassion. The ancient Jews put aside ten percent (a tithe) of every harvest to support their religious faith and to care for their poor. Buddha established his belief system built around the principles of self-restraint and caring for the poor. The teachings of Jesus and his followers are centered upon loving our neighbor as we love ourselves. Time and time again Jesus returned to his familiar theme: feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick, and comfort the dying. Shortly after his death and resurrection, the early Christians began to collect church funds through voluntary offerings. Deacons were elected to use these funds to care for widows, orphans, and others in need.

But genuine compassion does more than provide short-term relief. Handouts are a temporary solution at best. They do nothing to change important issues that make people needy in the first place. Real compassion is helping people help themselves - for the long haul.

Helping people to help themselves may be difficult, especially at first, but in the long run there are amazing benefits. Those benefits are shared not just by the giver and by those he is giving to, but in ripples of influence that spread across the face of the earth.

So how can we help people to help themselves? Six stages are required before we can ever really make a difference:

1. We must quit making excuses.

2. We must believe in ourselves.

3. We must get the facts about human need.

4. We must find our own cause.

5. We must decide on a plan.

6. We must work hard to complete it.

When we practice compassion lives will be changed - our lives too - and the hungry will be fed, the naked will be clothed, and the sick and dying will be comforted.

Rich DeVos is vice-chairman of Gospel Communications. He is also the author of "Hope From My Heart: Ten Lessons for Life," co-founder of Amway Corp., and owner and chairman of the NBA's Orlando Magic.