Four Aspects of Service from Paul: Humble Empathy

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind” (Php 2:1-2).1

In the consideration of Scriptures that have four distinct thoughts for the believer to assimilate, these verses have two sets. This passage places our attitudes towards distressed Christians between the admonitions of the imprisoned apostle Paul at the end of chapter 1 – “standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel” (v27) – and the staggering humility of the Lord Jesus in chapter 2. The mercy (empathy) we show is powered by the mind of the Lord Jesus in us (1Co 2:16) and among us (v5). His mind in us mandates our attention to the suffering Christian. His mind among us creates an assembly focused on that same Christian.

Every Christian eventually has personal challenges requiring mercy from fellow-believers. Feeling sorry for their misfortunes (sympathy) is part of mercy, but this admonition to biblical empathy involves our actions to alleviate suffering. The myriad trials, sin and suffering among believers provide ample opportunity for us to help. As the word “any” (v1) implies, you do not have to solve the whole problem for the sufferer, but every fellow-believer is part of the solution. Here are four suggestions (v1) for seeking to help a distressed believer:

1. “Encouragement” is a verbal or non-verbal action that comforts or consoles. Believers underestimate the power of the smallest effort here. “In Christ” gives the context of our approach and assures that even the “cup of water” of encouragement will have a positive effect. Doing anything is only negated by doing nothing.

2. “Comfort from love” combines the intent of decreasing the pain by giving the believer something they need to endure the suffering. The question “How can I help make this better or lighten your burden?” signals your empathy and desire to show mercy to the afflicted. The believer may be so grieved or embarrassed by his or her circumstances that your merciful offer is met with the reply, “Nothing” or, “I don’t know.” In addition to regular prayer for the situation, be politely prescriptive if you have something that might help.

3. “Participation in the Spirit” considers the strength intervening Christians must take with them as they approach brethren in need. Our union in Christ joins us together. Their suffering is my suffering, and I must enter that trial in some measure. Sympathy acknowledges the pain, and mercy (empathy) bears the pain. The hurting believer needs both. The engaging believer will need strength from the Spirit of God. Pray before you approach suffering believers, “Father, give me the words they need to hear, and let me do a helpful thing to lessen this burden.”

4. “Affection and sympathy” in the consoler acknowledges that the suffering and trial endured by another believer could have been my trial. The Lord Jesus sympathizes with our weaknesses because He has experienced and endured them all, without sin (Heb 4:15). The word for affection in the original text signifies “an intestine, bowel.” Practical biblical affection feels in their gut what someone else feels. Affection and sympathy might lead us to say, “I feel/understand your pain, and I am sorry you are going through this.”

Giving and receiving mercy requires spiritual equipment which, thankfully, every believer has. Biblical humility is our gateway to mercy and empathy. “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Php 2:4). In a mind-jarring manner, Paul records, “Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (vv5-8), thus linking our humility with His. Along with the worship incited by these thoughts, consider the phrase “have this mind among yourselves” (v5). In these five words, the Spirit of God sets the high bar of “others’ interests” and sends our interests to a lower place on the list of life’s priorities.

Every Christian is capable of humility and mercy. The believers’ minds “have” the mind of Christ, and the mind of Christ is among the believers (v5). This passage emphasizes the scope of the Lord’s mind as the gigantic sphere of His equality with God, His humanity, His form of a servant and His humility. The coupling of humility and servanthood with His deity provides the only path to comprehend our inclusion here. The cross of Christ joins believers’ minds with Him and each other. The character of Christ defines the nature of that mind and our responsibility to one another.

The attitude and mindset in serving burdened believers is love, full accord and one mind (v2). Whereas we “have” the mind of Christ, the same love, spiritual agreement and unity further stress the need for humility from both the giver and the receiver. How often did the Lord Jesus attempt to serve the disciples only for them to refuse Him? The encouraging Christian must give the challenged believer what they need in love, solely for the benefit of the believer. Every believer has a responsibility to his brothers or sisters because they share full accord (agreement) and unity of thought. Imagine the tried, emotionally drained believer surrounded by every local Christian attempting to contribute a bit of help, regardless of the receiver’s attitude. Armed with love, scriptural agreement, one mind, and motivated by mercy and empathy, the Christians humbly encourage and comfort a fellow-believer with affection and sympathy. Their motivation is rooted in the mind of Christ and unhindered by excuses of fear or rejection.


1 Bible quotations in this article are from the ESV.