A person who has empathy tries to understand another person well enough so as to be able to share in his feelings, and then to bear his burdens by praying for him and personally helping him in any way that he can. You are not alive to please yourself by doing everything that in some way benefits you. You are to serve the Lord by helping others – first by showing them how to accept Jesus Christ as their personal
Savior, and then by helping them to live as He wants them to live. Mt. 28:19,20 Christians need each other just as soldiers in a battle need the encouragement and support of each other.
STUDENT EXERCISE
Neatly copy each verse from the Bible on the lines provided below. Memorize the verses and be ready to explain the meaning of each verse.
Gal. 6:2 _______________________________________________________
Rom. 12:15 ____________________________________________________
Rom. 15:1 _______________________________________________________
Heb. 13:3 _______________________________________________________
PERSONAL EVALUATION
How do you show empathy in your life?
- I am more concerned about listening to others than about telling them what I want to say.
- I am willing to listen to another person’s problems and to offer help or encouragement.
- I am willing to pray with or for another person who is having problems.
- I also feel sorrow when I see another person sorrowful or crying.
- I also feel happy when another person has a reason to rejoice.
- I am Moving toward and concerned about younger children.
- I am sorrowful about the condition of the person who is unsaved and headed for an eternal death in a burning Hell.
- I try to understand others well enough so that I can help them spiritually in some way.
- I would be willing to give up many things so that I could be a missionary.
- I am very concerned about the spiritual condition of my brothers and/or sisters.
Without empathy you will not be able to sense when others have needs, as you will be too concerned about yourself. Set a specific goal to help yourself learn to show more empathy. Pray that the Lord will help you to become a more unselfish and understanding person so that you can be used to help others more.
“Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. ”
Romans 12:15
