Adam Grant writes about “empathetic distress”, also called “compassion fatigue”……It is common for people to experience, especially those who work in helping professions- healthcare, social services, counseling, ministry, etc. And it also escalates after multiple community traumas, such as was experienced with the disruption and damage of Hurricane Michael and its recovery, followed closely by Covid, then political chaos and widespread economic stressors…… Communities have any number of reasons why mental health and well-being of its population might be compromised. And why its helping members might be overburdened, ineffective, or dropping out.
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
Galatians 6:9-10
….did you hear the “qualifiers?”….. “as we have opportunity”…, and “especially to those who are of the household of faith .”
This instruction is to believers in the church and it says we are to be particularly attentive to those of the “household of faith.”
What is the household of faith? For Christians, it is those who are participants in Christ’s church universal (or more narrowly, those whom one recognizes as having a maturing “owned faith” that marks Christ-following, self-aware Children of God who are walking out their faith in ways discernible by others). How do we know who that is? It is those who are actively known, loved, celebrated, and served while also knowing, loving, celebrating and serving others within the fellowship of the Christ-affirming church. They are also giving attention to and being comforted and admonished toward obedience to God by the Holy Spirit and His Word as they study and attend services and live among snd fellowship with one another.
Compassion fatigue is less common as we serve one another within the body of Christ, for we are also being encouraged and served, as well. And we have the confidence (and the evidence) of God’s answers to prayers and provision of blessings (referred to above as “reaping in due season”) to sustain us as we faithfully live in Christ among others who are doing the same.
Find a church. There is no lack of them in our community (for now, at least.) Be part of the “family” of believers in an active way. Take your children. Join others in studying the Bible. Invite your neighbors. Know and be known, love and be loved, admonish and be admonished in love, celebrate and be celebrated, serve and be served in a community of believers who are “doers of the Word.”
When resources become scarce, the church will provide first for those in its own body, then to other churches in communion with Christ, then they will help where they can reach and be effective in sharing the Gospel of Christ, as well as in sharing the resources of our steadfast Provider, Almighty God, by whom the churches are called to be just and wise stewards.
If one doesn’t want Christ, the Word of God, and His followers in their life….. if there is no desire for the fellowship of Christians, why seek out Christ’s followers only for what resources are believed to be held in their care?
Don’t be surprised when churches downsize, close, or their resources disappear. Don’t take the presence and benevolence of the church for granted. Relationships are its foundation, not concrete, steel, and wood.
If you are not there in relationship with God and His people, you may not find them there, either, when the need arises.