It's Their Problem, Not Mine!

Part of making disciples is counseling. When I started leading a small group, different girls with different issues have asked me for counsel. So much so that when I walk into Starbucks for any reason, my senses would always associate the aroma of coffee with serious talk or counseling time.

Oftentimes, their issues and concerns involve circumstances that I haven't experienced yet first hand. But of course, whey they come to you and ask for godly counsel, you wouldn't tell that person "Sorry, I haven't experienced that yet. Try to read your Bible and ask God nalang." No, we respond, we help them go through it, we make them realize, we ask questions, point them to the truth and pray for a repentant heart if it's causing them to sin.

When they come to us, their problems become our problems. What makes them awake at night, makes us awake too - sometimes even, we are the ones left with lesser sleep. And if you think about it, it's their problems and issues anyway, so why bother?

I don't know about you but I've already come to a point where I wanted to not bother, to live my own life, leave them alone and just watch them to struggle or to sin. Ahh, makes life easier. It's their problem anyway!

But this occured to me: if Jesus were in my shoe, that's probably not what He is going to do. Far off. "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." Matthew 9:36 says Jesus had compassion. I've learned that we should always choose to respond the way Jesus would.

And every time I want to get tired of helping people to deal with their sins or problems, I remind myself of the people who I also run to when I have problems, who have let me disturb them even during wee hours. Did they stop bothering to help me? No. Never.

Much more than that, God has never gotten tired of me and my problems. Jesus even went out of His comfort zone and die on the cross just so I - no, we - could be saved from sins. Talk about sacrifice and compassion.

Don't get tired. See people with compassion just like Jesus. Someday soon, you will see the fruit of your patience.

DAY 112 12.01.2010 8:33pm