Is Empathy Becoming a Thing of the Past?

Empathy means “feeling another person's pain” even if you've not experienced their situation. 

Without empathy, we're more apt to be rude or insensitive and less likely to apologize.

Sadly, lack of empathy is a growing problem in our culture where self-esteem is promoted and forgiveness is often replaced by boundaries. (See Avoiding Difficult People Makes Us a Difficult Person.) 

But empathy is important to God:

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:3-4

“Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” Galatians 6:2-3 

When someone is hurting, it's important that we try to put ourselves in their shoes and consider what challenges they might be facing. Best of all, we can ask God's help in rejoicing with those who rejoice and mourning with those who mourn (Romans 12:15).

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To do a short Bible study on this devotion, check out today's Bite Size Bible Study. And I also recommend the one-minute devotion, Romans 12:15 - Rejoice and Mourn.
 

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