Confessions of a Compassion Junkie

My name is Heather and I’m a compassion addict.

Many years ago while ministering in a one of the poorest neighborhoods I’ve ever had the privilege to serve in, I came across a man I knew who indicated that among other things, he was hungry. I promptly swung into compassion-action and smiling contentedly to myself, marched off to get him a slice of pizza. Just what he needed and so easily taken care of, I thought to myself.

While standing in line, a voice called out to me:

“Hey!” the man said,
“I only have 50 cents, wanna go halfsies on a piece with me?”
“No” I replied dismissively, “I’m buying a piece for my friend.”
“Please? I’m so hungry.” he added, with a hint of desperation.

At that point, I’m pretty sure I ignored him, busy as I was giving my order and paying my money. As I triumphantly turned around to present my pizza gift to my friend, he was long gone down an alley for a fix. I looked around for the man I had brushed off, but since I hadn’t actually seen him, I wasn’t sure who to look for. I sat down on the curb holding that Hawaiian pizza slice and Jesus spoke to me.

He revealed to me that in my zeal to ‘do-good’ for others and ‘feel-good’ about myself, I had made a plan that seemed right in my own eyes. Human compassion had kicked in at the first opportunity to 'meet a need' and I stopped at the words ‘hungry’ and thought – “Oh, I can take care of that.” rather than listening with my spirit to ALL of what he had to say in that moment. My plan didn’t take into consideration what God was already doing in that man’s life and where I might have been able to lend a hand. No, this plan was All. About. Me.

The second man was the divine appointment the Lord had had waiting for me. As Jesus spoke to me, I understood that God had been preparing that man’s heart for salvation and community, and my part was to give him the dignity of being treated well, and sharing a meal together. I was meant to be obedient to the leading of Holy Spirit, and through that the powerful love of God and the redemption of the Cross would have been revealed to him.
It had been a “now” moment that God had set up for me, but since I was out of step with Holy Spirit and determined to do what I thought was best, I missed it.

The truth? Human compassion leads no one to the cross.

I never found either man that day, but what I did take away was this:

To truly minister and reveal Christ in the world, I can do nothing by myself – I must do only what I see the Father doing, by keeping in step with Holy Spirit. (see John 5:19, Galatians 5:16)

As an Army, if we continue to provide “Christian ministry’ based solely on what we’ve got in our warehouses and food banks, giving people what we think will best and most conveniently (for us) meet their needs and then leave it at that, then let us call ourselves what we really are – not a Salvation Army, but a Do-Gooding Group. (hat tip MR)

When The Salvation Army ceases to be a militant body of red-hot men and women whose business is the saving of souls, I hope it will vanish utterly.'
William Booth

Lord,
I pray that you would have mercy on us as an Army and as your soldiers. We repent for ministering out of human compassion towards the poor rather than the harder, better way of obedience. Please teach us in all circumstances to say ‘Lord, reveal to me where you are at work in this person’s life and show me how I can partner with You.”
Amen.