Compassion Over Convenience
When it comes to grocery shopping, I am an “in and out as fast as you can” type of guy. Life is busy and I do not have time to waste. At least, that is what I thought until one day a few months ago. Our family was hosting an impromptu evening of fellowship with students on campus, and we were in a mad dash to get everything ready. My task was to run to the store and purchase snacks. As I entered the store, I had my headphones in to avoid the time-consuming inconvenience of talking with people. I grabbed the items on my list (a mixture of chips and candy) while trying not to make eye contact with anyone. Having found everything I needed, I quickly headed to the self-checkout. I scanned my items and rushed out of the store. I was in and out in less than five minutes. Congratulating myself on my speedy completion of the task, I drove home without interacting with a single person. It was on this short drive home that I had a sinking feeling in my heart – my choice of convenience had killed any hope of evangelism.
How many of you have had a similar experience, where you view interaction with people as a hassle? People get in the way, slow life down and challenge our self-centered way of living. So, what do we do? We avoid them! It is this avoidance that unsettles me. I wonder is there a different way of thinking about our interactions with people? Jesus gives us an example of how to view people in society. Matthew 9:36 says, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Jesus did not view the crowds as a nuisance. He was not on a quest for efficiency or minimum productivity. He saw lost sheep in need of a shepherd. He showed compassion toward their plight. He did not employ avoidance tactics but instead spent time with the crowd, healing them and casting out their demons. Jesus embraced each interaction as an opportunity to bring peace and good news to the harassed and helpless. For Jesus, the so called “inconvenience” of people was an opportunity to share life!
As I compare my heart during the mad dash to get snacks to the heart of Jesus, I recognize how mine has grown calloused to the plight of the lost. I treat the lost as an inconvenience to avoid. Yet I am reminded of Luke 15:7 “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” The heavens rejoice when one of these inconvenient people find Jesus, the good shepherd, who by His Spirit guides them to the safety of the Father’s arms. Suddenly, I do not see the staff member, or the person struggling to reach the item on the shelf, or even the frustratingly slow cart mover in the same way. I see a vision of the heavenly realms rejoicing and glorifying Jesus, as this once inconvenient person declares Jesus as Lord. We kill evangelism when we choose convenience, but we reignite evangelism when we choose compassion.
Here is the beauty of choosing the way of Jesus - inconvenience becomes a conduit for the salvation of lost souls. The slow cart mover in aisle seven is an opportunity to present God’s love for the one wearied by life. Eye contact with a fellow shopper is an opportunity to encourage another with the message of hope. Taking my headphones out long enough to engage in small talk with the staff member is an opportunity to share how Jesus defeated both sin and death. Oh, how the heavens will rejoice when a once inconvenient interaction leads to a lost sheep being welcomed into the family of God! Let us not be proud of our ability to get tasks completed on our to-do list. Instead, let us view this world as Christ did and search out the lost sheep! He searched for you and found you. Praise Jesus! You are no longer lost in your sin but are now found in the arms of God. Join the search party and search for others that are lost. May the Heavens sing loudly as each name is added to the book of life!
