Ask Fred > Faith > Is sympathy bad?

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Dear Fred

I read this quote in the article on "Earning The Respect Of Time" says, "Sympathy is an addictive emotion; people want more and more and more. Comfort, on the other hand, brings a light to the darkness. Comfort produces progress; sympathy doesn't." How do you reconcile what you said above with the verses from the Bible such as Hebrews 4:15; Phil. 2:1; 1 Pet. 3:8 on showing Sympathy to people and believers?

Fred's Response

I am willing to sympathize with people if I feel like they are accepting God’s will in their life with appreciation. The sympathy I am talking against is that which reinforces their pity-party for themselves. God does not bring hurt on us just to hurt us. He has a purpose and His purpose is love and we should therefore accept it positively.