“Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep” (Rom 12:15).
God is a God of mercy, and we, as His disciples, are to love mercy. God sees us in our weakness and need, has compassion on us, and meets our need. This is what merciful people do.
People with the gift of mercy are the people you want around when you hurt. They listen to you. They hug you. They hold your hand. They weep with you. They sympathize with your plight. These people feel your hurt. They want to help you, and they will do what they can to help you because they care.
These people have a special heart for the weak, the vulnerable, the hurting, and the oppressed. They look out for the poor, the lowly, and the downtrodden.
These people are genuinely happy at your good fortune and genuinely sad at your pain.
Like those with the gift of service, people with the gift of mercy do not generally want the spotlight. They prefer to come alongside you and help in the background. They differ with the servants in that those with the gift of service focus their help more on practical needs while those with the gift of mercy focus more on emotional needs – holding your hand, giving an encouraging word, crying with you. Those with the gift of mercy still desire to meet practical needs because they see such help as emotionally helpful whereas those with the gift of service see such help as practically helpful. On the outside it looks the same, but underneath the actions lie somewhat different emphases. Those with the gift of mercy tend to have more feeling in their help.
The Importance of the Gift of Mercy
People with the gift of mercy are God’s heart in the church. Mercy is important because it treats people as if they are people. It has a soft heart for people, and the church needs a soft heart toward people.
Strengths of the Gift of Mercy
- compassionate
- sensitive to how people feel
- generous
- considerate
- providing care to others
- often desire right relationships
- helping others
Weaknesses of the Gift of Mercy
- can be driven by emotions to unhealthy places like depression or false doctrine
- can focus on emotional or physical needs and neglect to bring the gospel to people
- can be indecisive
- desire to please people
- sometimes judge doctrines or people largely by their feelings
- sometimes feel things that are not true
- can have difficulty drawing healthy boundaries
- can have difficulty focusing on tasks
- can have their feelings easily hurt by others
- can have difficulty with rebuke or reproof – hard conversations
- can have difficulty in leadership roles
Examples of People with this Gift
Ruth, The Good Samaritan, Mother Teresa
Good Roles for this Gift
mom, ministry to the poor or oppressed, visiting the sick, care for the elderly, counselor, confidante, prayer ministry, nurse
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