Gifted (Part Six) Series

GIFTED (part six)

We've looked at six of the spiritual gifts listed in Rom. 12:6-8. Today we'll focus on mercy.

1) The gift of mercy.

The ability to minister cheerfully and appropriately to those who are suffering or undeserving; to spare them from their deserved punishment or consequences. The dictionary describes it as providing relief or preventing something unpleasant from happening. It's easing the distress or pain for someone; it's alleviating their misery.

We are all supposed to show mercy but those with the gift of mercy are able to better perceive when people are hurting or dealing with some sort of affliction and help and console them. David prayed in Psalm 130:2, "O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy."

Someone with the gift of mercy is attentive to people's cries. And their cries might not be obvious; they might be more subtle. But the person who has the gift of mercy is able to pick up on these sensitive yet desperate cries. One who has the gift of mercy can more easily pick up on the pain others are going through. They may be able to read it in one's behavior or body language or their tone or indirect words.

They may step in to mediate and try to help the person who has been wronged see things on a more merciful level. They are not quick to judge; they're not vengeful. The more important thing to them is alleviating the hurt more so than seeking justice for the wrongs committed. A merciful person has a disposition to be compassionate or forgiving of others.

Prov. 19:11, "A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense." A wise response is not one of vengeance when wronged. It's not immediately being retaliatory. It's patience; it's 'let me think this through'. It's 'Lord, what would you have me do'.

And we see that it is to my glory when I am willing to be lenient. To overlook an offense isn't pretending it didn't happen, it's deciding to not hold it against a person. I'm choosing to not seek justice, I'm going to show mercy; I'm going to forgive and move on.

James 2:13 says that mercy triumphs over judgment. You may have the right to enact judgment and it might be fair to seek compensation for your offense but when you decide to show mercy and not treat someone as their actions deserve that is greater than the judgment that could have been enforced.

One of the reasons it is to our glory to overlook an offense is because when we show mercy we are being like God, thus bringing glory to his name. After David committed adultery he prayed in Psalm 51:1, "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions."

God showed mercy to David and did not give him the punishment he deserved. Through the power of the Spirit we have the same ability. Through love and compassion we are able to blot out the sins committed against us. And when we show mercy we are bringing glory to God because we are acting in accordance with him who is rich in mercy.

One of the dangers in having this gift is they find it harder to enact discipline when they need to. It's hard for them to administer tough love. And they can tend to see the disciplinarian in a negative light. They might also be more tempted to be in a co-dependent relationship.

You're the rescuer so you develop a desire to help the needy and people can cling to you. But then the relationship takes an unhealthy turn and you become an enabler. Having the gift of mercy is wonderful we just have to watch out for the dangers involved.

2) The way of mercy.

Some people are quicker to show mercy than others. Like if I helped someone and they took advantage of that and came back at some point later and asked for more help. Someone who isn't as merciful may be quick to say, "no, I helped you once, I'm not helping you again."

One with the gift of mercy would be more apt to help again but perhaps communicating some worthwhile advice and setting some boundaries so as not to create a dependent situation. But they are more willing to give the person another chance as opposed to the person who is more rigid and exhibiting a one-strike-and-you're-out way of doing things.

But that doesn't mean those with the gift of mercy are naive or a pushover. God is wonderfully merciful but there were times when he did not show mercy. When people were just sorry to try to avoid getting consequences for their actions God didn't hold back from following through with the warnings he gave. That's good. It was still an act of love; they needed to learn a lesson and they needed to see that God holds to his word.