Pity: A Sympathetic Sickness

What particular act is shown in the video? Why is

it done?

How is helping incorporated in our daily lives as

Christians?

“If you lend money to any of My people who are

poor among you, you shall not be like a
moneylender to him; you shall not charge him
interest.”
-Exodus 22:25
Why do we help people?
What does Jesus teach about helping?
He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd
putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large
sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins,
which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said
to them, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than
all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them
have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her
poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.’
~Mark 12:41-44
However, people today are losing sight of the
reason on why they should help their brothers
and sisters.

They start to help out of pity.

Just because they sympathize them.
Just basing on how they feel.
AND THEY ARE NOT SUSTAINING
COMMITMENT TO THEIR DUTIES.
As helping out of pity is not really sustainable, it
might only be rooting from what people call
ningas kugon.
“ningas kugon
– a fleeting and short-lived help.”
“They desired only that we should remember
the poor, the very thing which I also was eager
to do.”
Galatians 2:10
 Besides from ningas kugon, people might also
develop a messianic complex out of helping
from pity.
“Messiah Complex
- is a state in which the individual believes
himself/herself to be, or destined to
become, the savior of the particular field, a
group, an event, or a time period.
 “I am not the Messiah.”
- John the Baptist
The messianic impulse, the assumed role of rescuer of
the other, can be an egoism that diminishes and
destroys.

We are not, any nor all of us, the Messiah. That position
has already been filled. To let Jesus be our Christ, our
anointed savior and rescuer, may still entail seeking to
be engaged in his saving work and mission. We already
have a Messiah, and he ain’t us.
 Matthew 19:21
“Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect,
go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven; and come
follow me.”
Those who offer pity are stuck within themselves, unable to stop
comparing, unable to love their truest selves and set themselves
free, unable to recognize that when others rise, so too can they
with the tide. Instead, they are fearful, errantly thinking that they
will be swept under and dismissed.

What could be the other harms of helping out of pity?

 PITY IS DIFFERENT FROM KINDNESS!
Pity looks down in acknowledgement and obligation. Kindness looks down and pulls the wounded up.
Pity is relieved that someone is hurting the same if not more than they. Kindness assesses no
comparison and reaches out to help.
Pity places value and limitations. Kindness gives what they are able regardless of the height those they
help they will rise to meet.
Pity is selfish. Kindness is selfless.
Pity mistakenly believes helping would hinder their journey’s progress. Kindness, having set boundaries
knowing what they can give, gives what they are able without worrying about their journey knowing it
will continue as it should.
Pity reveals insecurity of oneself. Kindness reveals ease with oneself.
Pity remembers. Kindness looks forward.
Pity is expressed out of obligation. Kindness seeks no recognition.
Pity chooses their actions based on the recipient’s character. Kindness chooses their actions based on
their own character.
Pity wishes to keep the hierarchy in tact: I must remain stronger than you. Kindness wishes to support as
high as the supported wishes to soar, even if optically, the giver of kindness is surpassed.
 PITY IS DIFFERENT FROM COMPASSION AND
EMPATHY!
Pity - strong feeling of sadness or sympathy for
someone or something; something that causes sadness
or disappointment.
Empathy - the feeling that you understand and share
another person’s experiences and emotions; the ability
to share someone else’s feelings.
Compassion - a feeling of wanting to help
someone who is sick, hungry, and in trouble.
Having empathy means
• Having the ability to “walk in someone else’s shoes” for as
long as you need to connect with them in order to be able to
feel what they are feeling.
• Wanting to understand what they are going through and
show them they are not alone.
• Not judging their situation in any way, not making yourself
the Savior and them the victim.
• Seeing them as they are. Offering them the space of your
empathic presence allows them to feel seen and accepted.
From there on, change and healing can take place.
Showing Compassion means
• You want to help a person in need while showing
your confidence in their ability to get out of that
stressful situation.
• You help someone while showing them respect.
 Activity
Besides from empathy and compassion, how else can
we help our brothers and sisters without pity as its
cause? Explain.

Share a personal experience of helping another

person. Did you do it out of pity? Analyze your
reason.
 Isaiah 61:1
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
because the Lord has anointed Me to preach
good tidings to the poor; He has sent me to
heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to
the captives and the opening of the prison to
those who are bound.”