16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

1 John 3:16-17

 

Our country, and possibly the world is in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak. I pray that the effects and the spread of this virus will be short lived. This blog is named after that virus. Even so, this blog is not about the virus. It is about the reaction to the virus by people you would have thought were of sound mind.

I presume it is the fear of the unknown which draws out the worst in a person. Listening to misinformation, mostly from network news and social media, may well lead down a grave hole of darkness at the same time the sun is shining bright outside. My wife and I went to the store a few days into what has been called a pandemic. We got a few waters and two packs of toilet paper. We then stood in line and watched people checking out with their shopping carts overflowing with cases of waters and toilet paper. Let’s make this clear for all Christians:

 

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power,

and of love, and of a sound mind”

2 Timothy 1:7

 

 

 “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need,

and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

1 John 3:17

 

1 John 3:17 lays out a kingdom principle which is in direct opposite to the ways of the world. As Christians we are to use the abundance of what we have in order to help our brothers and sisters who are lacking the basic needs of this earthly life. It is during the time of greatest need, i.e. the coronavirus pandemic, wherein we need to give the most.

While Christians use this as a trial to minister to others, many of the world see this pandemic as an opportunity to hoard up goods for the purpose of worldly gain. There were those who bought out supplies which were needed to help make it through the time of this virus. When the supplies got low or ran out altogether, the price gouging began.

LET’S ALL MOVE FORWARD WITH A HEART OF COMPASSION.