THE SACRAMENT OF THE SAINT by Oswald Chambers

Quote: 'The people who do us good are never those who sympathize with us, they always hinder, because sympathy enervates'.

How true.

Good article.

Could you help me understand that statement a bit better Enid?

When people show sympathy towards us, it causes us to look at ourselves - which is away from God.

I have often found others sympathy to be "directed" - a form of manipulation to get me to look down upon another.

One of Satan's favorite tricks is to try to get me to feel sorry for myself - and whenever he succeeds, he has caused me to look down upon God (sin), for in my self pity I have agreed with Satan that my interests are more important than the Lord's.

Hrmmm...

I think I have been in serious error about this if what is being said is true (and I am not saying it is not, I just need to bereanize this a bit) Please pray for me brothers, that I learn this aright.

heartsong, very well put...
Sometimes those still walking in hurt,
have not yet learned what their Father was
seeking to teach them in the fires of their
lives. Its easier to blame a person, then
look at ourselves. The three men who walked
into the fire, knew He could deliver them...but went in for
His name sake. When deliverance did come...
it was noted of them...that not only were their
bindings off, but they did not smell like smoke,
or were they effected by the fire. but they were
truly free. What do we "smell" like when we
come out of trials? The aroma of Christ...
or are we still speaking of our wounds from
others? God will not join our Pity Parties...
but He will join us in any fire that we go through...
and what freedom will be ours....
DM

Would you guys agree that empathy is proper for us? And rather than being sympathetic toward others suffering we should choose to suffer with them? ("Pray for those who are in chains as if you were in chains yourself.")

Is that what Jesus meant when he said to, "Weep with those who weep?"

When Jesus said weep for those who weep - He meant it, literally. When someone is in deep trouble and prayer is offered up for them in the Spirit, tears come not of self, or pity, but far, far deeper than that. Something deep happens that brings glory to God for those who pray and the person in trouble. Look at Psalm 42 and verse 7 - for me it says it all.

God bless you in understanding His ways.

Yes, it is by His Spirit, that we come along side our brother or sister, and weep...but we weep in Hope. When we are lead by His Spirit, we are given His heart to do it. Oswald Chambers is speaking to only one aspect of this...

To choose to suffer means that there is something wrong; to choose God's Will even if it means suffering is a very different thing. No healthy saint ever chooses suffering; he chooses God's will, as Jesus did, whether it means suffering or not. No saint dare interfere with the discipline of suffering in another saint.

Some of my Heavenly Father's deepest love and discipline in our own life, was weeping alone....which causes us to rely on Him. Both are needed in the Body of Christ. A time to weep. A time to wait...and pray.
DM

This seems to be a razor's edge:

"To choose to suffer means that there is something wrong; to choose God's Will even if it means suffering is a very different thing. No healthy saint ever chooses suffering; he chooses God's will, as Jesus did, whether it means suffering or not. No saint dare interfere with the discipline of suffering in another saint."

I really am trying to understand this. Not question it. I hope this question makes sense, but what was the fountain from which Jesus tears flowed when it is said that he wept?

Jesus was weeping because of their unbelief.

I understand that, I know it was because of unbelief, but what did the tears mean? I am not sure how to ask this question. Were they tears of frustration? Were they tears of pity? Was he weeping over their unbelief because of what they were missing out on, was there compassion there? That is what I mean by my question. The cause of the weeping does not help me to understand what was going through his mind and soul. I know scripture is silent and does not say, but I think for some reason it has something to do with this thread.

I could be completely wrong and off base though.

It is the agony of heart of One that knows the Father, and knows that He is altogether good, and beautiful, and lovely, and kind, and abounding with grace and mercy. But the people, in their darkness and unbelief, cannot, or will not, see Him as such and prefer to focus on what they perceive to be loss - that which is actually gain - and in so doing exclude themselves from His Glory.