But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he
had compassion on him. Luke 10:33
Ten-year-old Bill Wilson was hurting. His father was long gone from his home, and his mother was a bar maid. Extremely poor, Bill had only the shabbiest of clothing. It had been three days since his mother had left him alone in the park with a promise to return shortly. Rejected by his peers and discarded by his parents, his prospects were indeed dim. However, Dave Rudenis noticed the lonely boy and took him into his home. He then paid for Bill to attend his church’s summer Bible camp the next week, an experience that drastically altered the young boy’s life.
Compassion, an essential trait of God’s character, is a heartfelt sympathy for the sufferings of others, along with action to provide relief. Becoming involved in someone else’s problems, however, often requires time, effort, and finances that most of us feel are already in short supply. But if we consider Christlike, compassionate outreach as an investment in the welfare of others instead of just an expenditure of our limited resources, the picture changes. Dave Rudenis made an investment. Bill Wilson received Christ as his Lord and Savior and passed on that investment to the poorest and neediest of children. The outreach that he founded currently ministers to 20,000 children each week in the worst ghettos of New York City, as well as to 130,000 others in other parts of the world.
Dave Rudenis was faithful to extend Christian compassion to one ragged, hurting little boy, and God gave a wonderful increase. Where is God calling you to make an investment?
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion. Psalm 111:4
~ Pete Lewis