David Bahn – Reflections

Hebrews 13:16

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

There seems to be an endless supply of people and situations calling for compassionate response. A neighbor is out of work and struggling to get clothes and supplies together for the start of the school year. A co-worker’s wife has cancer and can’t seem to find childcare, not to mention the pain of seeing his wife suffer and the loneliness he is facing. Then there are the families at church, the latest national and international disasters, the man on the street corner begging for food or $$. Top that off with the car washes for cheerleaders, the street corner collections for the homeless shelter, and the list goes on.

There comes a time when we run out of compassion, or the ability to respond compassionately to those in need. We become hardened to the needs of others. We dismiss them as not worthy, not truly in need, or beyond our help. Our lives have to go on. We have enough trouble of our own.

The calling here to do good and share is linked with pleasing God. But it is actually the verse immediately prior to this one that puts things in better perspective for us: “Through [Christ] then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name” (Hebrews 13:15). There is something about being connected to Christ that compels compassion. There is something about worshiping God that has implications for how we respond to others in need.

That has to do, I believe, with the fact that Christ has had compassion for us – an unending supply of it. He was moved all the way to death because of his love for us. While there are times in our lives when we say, “I can’t go on. I have not more to give. There is no more I can do…”  Christ never said that. He gave it all – literally – and held back nothing. When we are connected with that kind of love and compassion we are emboldened, empowered, impassioned to do good and share with those in need. There may be a fatigue that we embrace. But it is not a hopeless one. And we find strength to continue to care and give in the One who cared for us and gave his life for us.

Hebrews 13:1-16

Let brotherly love continue. ² Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. ³ Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. ⁴ Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. ⁵ Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” ⁶ So we can confidently say,

⁷ Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. ⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. ⁹ Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. ¹⁰ We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. ¹¹ For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. ¹² So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.¹³ Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. ¹⁴ For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. ¹⁵ Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. ¹⁶ Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.