Covid-19 Don’t Mask Your Consideration for Others

Covid-19

Don’t Mask Your Consideration for Others

 

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,

but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Philippians 2:3

Your interest, your concerns, and desires matter

But don’t let them get in the way of the interest of others

Each of you should look not only to your own interests,

 but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:4

Godly love is full of consideration

Show love in all you do by looking out for the interest of others

Who knows, maybe your consideration will open the doors of heaven

To someone who is lost

Don’t Mask Your Consideration for Others

Wearing a mask has been a big

issue in the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Most of us do not like wearing a mask.

Maybe it’s because we have watched too

many movies where the bad

guy is the one with the mask.

So maybe it’s because we are all so honest.

Maybe it is because

they are uncomfortable.

They itch, they make you sweat,

and your voice is muffled.

Whatever the reason, we all

need an incentive to wear a mask.

The Coronavirus has made me

think about wearing a mask.

I have always believed the mask is a

good idea, but I have not worn one.

 

Yet, I have felt more and more

uncomfortable about not wearing one.

Not because I have a fear of contracting Covid-19…

But because of “Consideration”.

I found you cannot love

without consideration.

All of us have gotten angry when people

push their way into the front of the line.

Or, find convenient ways of getting

out of work leaving us to do their part.

We love people who are considerate.

Considerate people always

show others they are valuable.

They do it by putting others above themselves.

To be considerate you have to be

confident and secure in who you are.

You believe you can handle your own needs

and have enough energy to

help others with their needs.

So when it comes to a mask,

I do not want to wear one

but it is not about me.

The concern about contracting the Coronavirus is real.

We know people like you and I have the virus,

 therefore none of us can be sure who

might be carrying this invisible enemy.

Good people have gotten sick and

died because of the Coronavirus.

So what does the Bible say about wearing a mask?

Not much…

 But it does say a lot about “considering others”.

Phillippians 2:3 says…

 

In humility consider others better than yourselves.

Paul tells us that there are a lot of things

not covered by laws, giving us freedom or

making it permissible to do them.

But he does hold himself accountable

to something higher than the law…

"Everything is permissible"-but not everything is beneficial.

 "Everything is permissible"-but not everything is constructive.

Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.

1 Corinthians 10:23-24

In Romans 14 and 15, we see

differing views on what to eat.

Some in clear conscience saw food as food…

While others would not eat food offered to idols.

Today some Christians see food as food…

 But others see only foods that make the

body healthy, right to eat because they

are conscience of the scripture that our

bodies are the temple of God.

 Look at Romans 14:14…

As one who is in the Lord Jesus,

I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself.

But if anyone regards something as unclean,

then for him it is unclean.

There will be different personal convictions

among believers and we should be

respectful of others’ convictions.

Romans 14:16 gives us the reason…

 Do not allow what you consider

good to be spoken of as evil.

The next verse gives us what the good is…

The Kingdom of God.

Don’t lose sight of the big picture.

There are a lot of things in life that matter…

 But matter little in comparison

to the Kingdom of God.

Jesus’ greatest message was the Kingdom

of Heaven and ours should be the same.

Being considerate means we do not want

people to speak bad about the Kingdom of

God because of our personal freedoms.

So when it comes to a mask…

 I do not want to offend the person who would be

uncomfortable with me if I was not wearing a mask.

We all would feel terrible if we had the

Coronavirus unknowingly and gave it to someone.

Because we have the Love of Christ,

His encouragement, comfort,

and fellowship with the Spirit.

If your relationship with Christ has caused

you to be tenderhearted and compassionate…

Than be like minded.

 

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,

but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Philippians 2:3

Your interests, your concerns and desires matter…

 But don’t let them get in the

way of the interest of others.

Each of you should look not only to your own interests,

but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:4

Godly love is full of consideration.

Show love in all you do by looking

out for the interest of others.

Who knows maybe your consideration will

open the doors of heaven to someone who is lost.

Scripture Reading

Philippians 2:1-4 NIV

2:1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.