Control Your Emotions (3)

He had compassion on them and healed their sick.
Matthew 14:14

Before you congratulate yourself on having your emotions in check,understand that there's another side to the coin - control but no compassion; moral indignation over human suffering yet no corresponding action.
James talks about these people (James 2:20). And they were church people too. They see the pain and unmet needs of others. They have the ability to do something about it, but they lack the willingness or compassion so they walk away muttering about being too busy. Or they try to appease their conscience with a token gift.
John asks, "How does the love of God abide in him?" (1 John 3:17).
How indeed? If we are not responsible, who is?
If we don't do something, who will?

"Faith without works is dead" (James 2:20).

You're only disciplining your emotions if you translate them into responsible action. And your "somebody ought to do something about this"sentiments won't get you off the hook.

William Barclay wrote: "There is nothing more dangerous than the repeated experience of a fine emotion with no attempt to put it into action. It is a fact that every time aman feels a noble impulse without taking action he becomes less likely ever to take action. In a sense it is true to say that a man has no right to feel sympathy unless he at least tries to put that sympathy into action.

An emotion is not something in which to luxuriate; it is something which, at the cost of effort and of toil, of discipline and of sacrifice, must be turned into the stuff of life.

" That just about says it all - doesn't it?