Covid-19 Pandemic and the People In Need

As fire refines gold, a situation as this calls all the children of God, more than ever, to be kind, generous and comforting to one another in whatever way we can.

Besides the world being full of uncertainties, the Covid-19 pandemic has forced everyone to take agonising choices all over the world. While the dynamics of the disease is baffling experts, we can hope that this will soon come to an end like all the trying times we faced in our lives in the past.
We can draw strength and encouragement as we reflect on the word of God in Psalms 112:4 & following, “Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous…” The Divine light overcomes the darkness for all the Children of God. This puts all the children of God above the occurring circumstances or impending calamity (if there be).

Meanwhile, due to the unfathomable nature of the Coronavirus, there has been a cessation of employment in both organised and unorganised sectors. The common people’s means of livelihood has also been put on halt and has been prolonging more than the anticipated timespan and thereby increasing exponentially the number of people in need in the neighborhood, villages, towns and cities we live in.

The Book of Deuteronomy 15:11 reminds us that “There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.” Galatians 6:2 also tells us that “You obey the law of Christ when you offer each other a helping hand.” Further, Proverbs 19:17 wants us to be assured that “When you give to the poor, it is like lending to the Lord, and the Lord will pay you back.”

As responsible members of the society, as leaders of the civil societies, churches and NGOs and more importantly as the children of God, we can actively seek the likely people in need rather than waiting for them to come to us. We can safely assume that everyone is facing one problem or the other due to this pandemic that has befallen all of us. Some of us or perhaps our loved ones are victims of Covid-19, some facing financial problems, some in need of food supplies and clothing or in need of comfort due to isolation or loneliness. As fire refines gold, a situation as this calls all the children of God, more than ever, to be kind, generous and comforting to one another in whatever way we can.

On that day, may the good Lord say to all of us, “…I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me..” (Matthew 25:35-36). Now, enter into the House of My Father!