The starting point of compassion

The starting point of compassion and ministry is our faith.  Some people are compassionate without faith, but Christians are compassionate because of our faith.  We believe God exists and He’s watching us and that He delights in rewarding us like a loving father.  

If we claim to have faith in God, but are not compassionate then it’s merely an intellectual faith not a trusting faith, and so James says in his NT letter, big deal that you have intellectual faith…means nothing, even the demons have that (Jas 2:19.)  

It's much like an abused spouse might say, “don’t tell me you’re sorry – show me!”  Or, like a child might say to their father, "don’t say I’m a priority, show me."  Faith without works means nothing.  If you lack compassion, don't will yourself to change, examine the veracity of your faith in a God who sees everything we do.