Over the past few weeks, our world has been deeply impacted by the spread of COVID-19, often referred to more simply as the Coronavirus. It is a highly contagious virus that has quickly spread all over the globe. If you’ve spent any amount of time on the internet/social media recently, you are familiar with the statistics that are being circulated, and the widespread concern that is growing.
But that’s not what we’re here to talk about.
Instead, I want to talk about the best piece of advice that has been given about how to beat the coronavirus.
I read an article last night that makes mention of a short video clip that has gone viral over the past few days. In it, Graham Medley, a professor of infectious disease modelling, shares what he believes is the best way to prevent the spread of coronavirus. He states that the best way to avoid the virus is not simply to try and avoid others who are sick. Instead, the best way to defeat the virus is to act as though you already have the virus, and to take the necessary precautions to keep from transmitting it to others.
In essence, Medley is encouraging people to focus less on themselves and their own desires for self-protection, and to give more thought and consideration to the needs and concerns of others. The best way to keep from getting sick is not to try and avoid becoming sick; it’s to try and keep others from becoming sick. The logic is sound: if your primary concern is your own physical well-being, you might be willing to make choices that could potentially put others (say, the elderly and the immunocompromised?) at risk.
If the Coronavirus pandemic can teach us anything about ourselves and our society, it’s this: focusing on the needs and concerns of those around you benefits everyone, including yourself.
Think about it: what if we applied this principle to every area of our lives, not merely preventing the spread of a deadly virus? What if we became less concerned with our own desires, and instead became more focused on serving the needs of those around us? The world needs men and women who live with an others-first mentality, regardless of what it might cost them personally. Imagine how different our world would look if we adopted this mindset, and began to prioritize the needs of others before our own. At the very least, there might still be some toilet paper on the shelves.
If the Coronavirus pandemic can teach us anything about ourselves and our society, it’s this: focusing on the needs and concerns of those around you benefits everyone, including yourself.
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In his letter to the Philippian church, the apostle Paul exhorts them to live with this others-first mindset:
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Philippians 2:3-4
On the surface, this seems like something we can all get on board with. I can’t think of anyone I know who would disagree with the words Paul wrote. We all like to think of ourselves as selfless, considerate people. The problem comes when we find ourselves in real-life situations where selflessness doesn’t come naturally. Selflessness is always attractive until it’s costly. Difficulty arises in times when it is highly inconvenient, or even painful, to put the needs and concerns of others ahead of our own. It’s in these moments that we realize that we need courage to be willing to sacrifice our own selfish desires for the sake of being loving and caring towards those around us.
We need something or someone beyond ourselves to help us live with courageous selflessness.
Paul recognizes this, and he reminds the church to look to Jesus as their source of strength to live with an others-first mentality. He doesn’t tell them that they should just try harder to live more selflessly towards one another; he reminds them of the example they have as to what true selflessness looks like in the life and death of Jesus. I fully recognize that you might not share the beliefs that I hold about who Jesus was, but what I want to make clear is this: when you believe that God would give His life for you – not because you were worthy, but because He is loving – it has the power to motivate you to give of yourself to others, even when they are undeserving of that kindness.
This is why I believe that Jesus is the Someone who gives us power beyond ourselves to live with courageous selflessness. When you come to know the One who took on your shame and guilt so that you could find forgiveness and freedom, it has the ability to change the way you look at others around you. Jesus can give you a new ability to life with an others-first mentality. It’s easier to give freely when you received freely first. If you don’t know the selfless love of God in Jesus, ask Him to show you. It will change your life, and it will change the lives of the people around you in the process.
Consider your life: what opportunities do you have today to go above and beyond to serve someone else today? Perhaps it’s your spouse, or your child. It may be a co-worker, a neighbour, or a friend. It might even be that person who is completely undeserving of your kindness and consideration. In the moments when placing the needs of others seems too inconvenient, or too costly, remember Jesus.
If the way to stop coronavirus is to show more concern for the well-being of others than for your own well-being, perhaps the way to stop all kinds of pain and hurt is by doing the same. -NH
Hildenbrandt Ministries 