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Why do you do the work that you do? What motivates you?
Work that is not connected to purpose will quickly produce frustration, boredom, and burnout.
There are many things that may motivate a person: money, power, prestige, etc. But the thing that motivated Jesus was people. As you read the gospels, you will notice that often before Jesus reaches out to a person, or performs a miracle, or goes to a certain place, he is provoked by compassion.
In Matthew 9:36, the gospel writer says about Jesus, that “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
In many ways, and to varying degrees, this description of the crowds aptly applies to those we work with. Many have been harassed and feel helpless, they have had limited guidance and care in their lives, like sheep who do not have a shepherd they wander from here to there without a sense of purpose or
direction. To help someone who you think may, at some point, be able to help you in return is intuitive and natural; to provide help for someone who is unable to “pay you back” is compassion and is Christ-like.While some may see another’s helplessness and respond with disdain and judgment, or neglect and
indifference, Jesus always responds with compassionate action. In Matthew 14:14 we are told that Jesus had compassion on a great crowd and healed their sick, in Matthew 15:32 we read that Jesus has compassion on a hungry crowd of 4,000 and then feeds them. Compassion that doesn’t produce action is useless; James talks about this when he says in James 2:15-16: “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?”
To do something out of duty or for money may be sustainable for a time, but those motivations will only
allow you to endure so much. Temporal motivations will produce temporary action, but eternal motivations (in our case, the compassionate care of eternal souls - mind, body, and spirit) will produce lasting and grace empowered action.
a small dose of encouragment
Compassion is the fuel that
prevents burnout for those who are
willing to embrace it.
The compassionate action that Jesus models is never passive, and often may feel risky. Following the description of his compassion in Matthew 9:36, Jesus tells his disciples in verse 37 that ”The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few...” Jesus says that there are many people who need help, many people who need to hear and be impacted by the good news of the kingdom, but there are not many workers helping them and telling them about his good news.
Not enough people have been “moved with compassion.” What are we to do about this? The answer is two-fold, first Jesus tells his disciples to pray that more workers would help in the work of the kingdom. As we begin to experience the compassion of the Lord for people, we ought to pray for others to experience the same compassion and be moved to action. And while prayer is powerful and necessary, it is not the end of our responsibility. Immediately following Jesus’ instructions to pray, he sends out his disciples as part of the answer to their own prayer. Jesus never let his compassion stay at a distance, and he instructs us to do the same; to faithfully and practically serve those in our care who need love
and support.
Prayer:
Father, move our hearts with compassion when we see people who are hurting and in need of healing. Help us be the hands and feet of Jesus for those in our care, moving toward them in love even at the expense of our comfort and pride. Thank you for the voice of the Holy Spirit that encourages us to look more like Jesus, and for your grace that empowers us to live lives that produce kingdom fruit. Amen.
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