“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31
“Coronavirus is making the rounds across oceans and borders. Despite the relatively low rate of fatality, I am the first to admit that it is a daunting reality that I am desperately trying to avoid for me and my family in Hong Kong.
Having said that, shocking scenes of emptied supermarket shelves have followed the spread of the coronavirus around the world, racial and cultural differences aside. Not only are we as a human race, generally speaking, hoarders of money, we have also reduced ourselves to become hoarders of face masks, and of all things, toilet paper.
There is much irony in such behavior.
If you were the only household in your neighborhood with all the available face masks, it would actually increase your chances of getting infected with the coronavirus, with no one else having adequate protection in crowded places like public transportation and elevators.
If you were the only household in your neighborhood with all the toilet paper, it would also increase the likelihood of you getting infected with the coronavirus, as medical evidence has shown that it spreads through feces; if no else had access to toilet paper, you are actually in effect doing yourself a disservice directly or indirectly.
Jesus asked these relevant questions in Matthew 16:26 (CJB): “What good will it do someone if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or, what can a person give in exchange for his life?” How much more absurd if we ratchet down to such a primitive level and beat others in the queue to covet over gaining an excessive supply of face masks and toilet paper, of all things?
I have faith that this episode of coronavirus will pass sooner or later. I trust that a medical solution is in the works to either prevent or cure this illness, but there is no cure for fear or expressions thereof, apart from trusting in our Ultimate Provider, Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides at all times.
Fear is the expression of insecurity in provision. It is an outward demonstration of pure self-reliance, and as a corollary a complete forfeiture of good sense and long-term perspective. Selfishness cannot be a successful strategy for survival, and it cannot be a desired legacy one would wish to pass down to the next generation.
It is more blessed to give than to receive (Act 20:35), and our Heavenly Father, who has infinite ability to understand and supply all our needs, has made a promise especially to those who obey His life-giving ways.
Friends, choose life.”
Roger Lam in “Loving Your Neighbour as Yourself Makes Good Sense, Especially in the Time of Coronavirus” blog post dated 5 March 2020. I consider Roger a friend, a fellow author and speaker, and dear brother in Christ.
Join me as a subscriber to Roger’s blog (by clicking and subscribing above), and if you have not read his two books, buy them today on Amazon, Lost and Found: Money vs. Riches and Lose to Find: Change of Control. I formally endorsed them and can’t say enough good things about these books.
What’s been your reaction to Coronavirus?
I think Roger is spot on with articulating that “fear is the expression of insecurity in provision.” If crisis situations immobilize us with fear or cause us to hoard, we must pause and ask ourselves where we place our trust.
Sure, there are prudent responses to such maladies but things have gotten out of hand.
Not only do I believe, with Roger, that we should share whatever masks and the toilet paper we possess, I think we need to look at our hearts and see what our actions are saying about where we find our security.
Lent is a season of fasting and setting aside our self-reliance and choosing instead to rely on God. Only as we walk in the way of Jesus do we discover that His commands are good and they actually save us from selfishness.
Along with fasting, perhaps pray for those affected by the virus and move toward the sick rather than away from them. Consider giving to someone experiencing infirmity right now. Ask the Spirit to guide you.
Or you can allow fear to destroy you. It’s your choice.
Not me! Roger, I’m with you. Friends, choose life.