What Motivates People to Show Mercy?

Have you ever been surprised when a family member, a friend, or someone considered less than a friend showed you mercy when it was undeserved? What motivates people to be kind, compassionate, and forgiving? Acts of mercy may be beyond comprehension when facts justify rejection.

Mercy as an attribute of human behavior may seem a bit out of place in a high-stress world where frustration is prevalent. Taking a moment to show consideration and kindness should, however, be the ideal. Showing mercy rather than condemnation should be what all believers in Jesus Christ should practice.

So we celebrate Jesus’ coming into the world as God’s gift of mercy, rather than his condemnation. Faith that saves us is deeply rooted in God’s mercy and generosity. We should in return be willing to show mercy to others as an expression of the gratitude we feel for the mercy God extends  to us. Praise God for his mercy!                     

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Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound in you…in all things at all times.  

~2 Corinthians 9:6-8 New International Version/English Standard Version

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How Does Demonstrating Mercy Strengthen Our Character?

The first thing most people do when confronted with life-threatening problems is to ask God for help and mercy. We often attribute acts of mercy only to God, for he abounds in mercy and forgiveness, but does God expect us to show mercy to others as an act of our gratitude?

Matthew 18 includes a story of a man whose debts were so out of bounds, his creditor threatened legal procedures. Then motivated by an  act of mercy, the creditor forgave the entire debt. Instead of extending mercy to those indebted to him, however, this man viciously demanded payment.

David extended mercy to Saul by refusing to take revenge against him, but Saul refused to extend mercy to David and in doing so, set himself up for tragedy. God expects us to show mercy as an expression of thanksgiving for the abundant mercy he has shown us. 

Do you need to extend mercy to someone today? Then do it!          

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God blesses those people who are merciful. They will be shown mercy!

~Matthew 5:7 Contemporary English Version

 

So let us continue coming with courage to the throne of God’s unmerited favor to obtain his mercy and to find his spiritual strength to help us when we need it.

~Hebrews 4:16 Williams – New Testament in the Language of the People

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Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week.