By: Dr. Cornelius Huwa
In the Holy Bible, Paul the Apostle writes to the Corinthian Church in his first letter to them in chapter 13 verse 11 that “When I was a child, I SPAKE as a child, I UNDERSTOOD as a child, I THOUGHT as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” (AKJV: Emphasis mine)
My country Malawi has just registered her first Corona virus patients few days ago. As I am writing this post, there are 5 confirmed positive results in Malawi and one can imagine the pressure that this is sending to the population. In many countries of the world, the same news is being received with mixed reactions. We all cannot refute that the reactions and actions to the news are majorly based on the three things that Paul the Apostle spoke about. Paul narrates that there is a danger when childishness rules one’s speech, understanding and thought process. He tells us that when he Became a MAN, he had to PUT AWAY, childish things. He intentionally “put away” those things he considered childish.
We all know now that COVID 19 is no child’s game. The threat is real. No one is above the reach. The powerful, the rich, the powerless, the small etc. How can I then position myself for a maturity ecosystem? Few tips to help us below:
- SPEECH
Maturity or childishness is seen today in the way we are communicating about COVID – 19. Social media is awash with different messages that are bent toward twisting the existing solid information. Others are using the challenge to exploit the poor and to mislead many. Paul understood that if he was to be relevant and effective, he needed to change his way of speaking. He had to watch his speech and remove any childish elements in them. He was careful because he knew that his speech would go a long way in uplifting or destroying others if not carefully planned. We still get blessed by his letters today because they were well thought through. I suggest that in times like these if you have no information, do not speak, do not forward any message and do not even try to warn anyone. You are doing more damage with your mouth or your texts than what COVID 19 is doing to people. Speak only that which you have evidence on. When all is said and done, we will be forced to swallow our own words and it will be painful to swallow that which we already released.
I know that others are now taking advantage of the situation to castigate pastors and preachers. Ladies and gentlemen, we should have picked a better time to point fingers. This is the time to say “what can we all do?”. That kind of speech will unite and not divide. One thing i am certain about is that Covid-19 will pass away. But then we will have to heal so many wounds that are caused by ill-informed mouths and forwarded messages that we sent irresponsibly. If you are not an expert in interpretation of medical information, then adding your voice to this busy media will only make the experts to have tough time to reach out to the people who need the message the most. Perhaps the world would be better off at least for a second, without your message. Do not add salt to an already fragile situation.
I also see a lot of experts rising up trying to interpret the Bible prophecies of the end time. If you have no evidence and background, picking a verse and scaring people with it does not help the situation. Perhaps we can stick to an easy and yet truthful timely verse in the Bible. This verse is John 3:16. “God so loved the world that he Gave His son to die for the world”. Whether there is COVID-19 or not, the need for everyone to be born again will remain pivotal. So, don’t try to become a bible scholar to give the Book of Revelation interpretation or Daniel’s dreams and throw that to people all over your network. If people will repent out of fear, we will have a great boomerang once COVID-19 is out of the way. Repentance is always well placed under grace when it is preached in LOVE, not fear.
My brother or my sister reading this article, if you have never made Jesus your Lord, I want you to know that Jesus already paid the price for all our sins on the cross. You are being asked by Him every day to come to Him. Not because of Covid-19 but because he already paid the price!
2. UNDERSTANDING
Paul the Apostle knew that childish understanding is costly. He deliberately positioned himself to UNDERSTAND like a man. (Putting away childish things). We all need to understanding basic things about the disease as mature people. Understanding is important so that we can all participate in preventing the spread of the disease. Above it all, we also need to understand basic truth about the Word of God. This truth looks like this: 1. Man sinned and deserved punishment by the maker. 2. Jesus came to die on the cross to pay for the sin. He received the punishment for our sins. 3. Whosoever believes in Him (or receives Him as Lord and Saviour), have eternal life. Eternal life is not defined by the situations of the physical body. 4. Beyond this life there is another life. To enter into that Life there is only one way. Jesus, the son of God, who died for every sinner.
3. THOUGHT PROCESS
Paul knew that when he became born-again, there was need to change his way of thinking. He understood what suffering meant and what living in abundance meant and what getting sick meant. He even had a different view over death and life. He said, for him to live is for God and to die is gain in heaven. This then means that the thinking should be one of appreciating that fear of the unknown is unwarranted. You have to put on a good thinking mentality. Paul in Philippians 4 verse 8 speaks with confidence as such: ” Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Simple as it may look, but Paul is advancing a very important principle. Thinking is a deliberate endeavor and not an accidental wondering around. Learn to be deliberate and intentional in your thoughts. You can plan the kind of thoughts you should have for the day once you wake up each day. Thinking should not be left to the events outside of your life. Determine what to think. If you don’t, the world is full of bad and wrong suggestions for your thoughts for the day. You better stand up and say “Today, these are the thoughts I have planned to put on my mind. Nothing outside these plans will be allowed.” Looks impossible but it is possible. You either allow TV, WhatsApp, FB, friends etc. plan your thoughts or you can choose to plan them for yourself.
SPEECH, UNDERSTANDING and THOUGHT can be childish or mature. Which one do you have?
*Cornelius Huwa is a qualified Medical Doctor. A Palliative Medicine specialist, he is currently National Team Leader for African Enterprise in Malawi.
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