Keeping Watch Over Our Health
During this COVID-19 period it has been hard to maintain routines while being restricted to our homes. Our normal times get all out of whack. Bedtimes, waking times, meal times, working times, resting times, exercising times and so on aren’t being determined by the world around us. We have the flexibility to do them pretty much when we like.
The same is true for our daily tasks like making the bed, brushing our teeth, getting dressed, tidying the house, going shopping, and so on. We have freedom to do them when we want or not do them at all. After all, who’s coming over to see my house and Zoom enables me to hide the reality with a virtual background.
Of course this also applies to our spiritual disciplines of reading the Bible and prayer, of meeting together and singing God’s praises. Online church videos mean I can “attend” in my pyjamas or choose not to “attend” and watch it by myself later. Then I can skip a song or speed up the talk, or do something else at the same time while I listen.
Can You See The Problem?
- The restrictions have provided many freedoms.
- Freedoms typically mean the removal of accountability.
- The removal of accountability opens the door to self interest.
- Self interest takes hold quickly and I find myself in a world of laziness.
It’s not hard for me to see that I’m going to bed later, getting up later, spending more time on screens (and that’s not including Zoom meetings), consuming more cheese, putting more things off to tomorrow, daydreaming more often, and placing myself at risk of gaining spiritual flab as well as physical.
I’m reminded of the days when I did karate. Missing a few weeks in the dojo I discovered that I regressed much faster than I had progressed.
I sometimes wonder if I’m alone in the struggle against physical and spiritual laziness?
Warnings From God’s Word
When I look to the word of God during this time of “freedom” I’m warned of the dangers of not keeping watch over my spiritual well-being.
In Deuteronomy 4:9 as the Israelites were about to enter the land of promise, Moses warned them of the need to guard against spiritual laziness.
9 “Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you don’t forget the things your eyes have seen and so that they don’t slip from your mind as long as you live. Teach them to your children and your grandchildren.
Jesus warned against greed in Luke 12:15
He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard against all greed because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.”
He spoke about being ready for the day of his return in Luke 21:34-36
34 “Be on your guard, so that your minds are not dulled from carousing, drunkenness, and worries of life, or that day will come on you unexpectedly 35 like a trap. For it will come on all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 But be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”
When speaking to the Ephesian elders on the beach in Acts 20:28, Paul first called on them to pay attention to their own spiritual well-being and then to that of the flock.
28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock that the Holy Spirit has appointed you to as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.
Paul says the same thing to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:16
16 Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for by doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.
We are warned in 2 John 1:8-9 warns against being led astray by false teaching.
8 Watch yourselves so you don’t lose what we have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward. 9 Anyone who does not remain in Christ’s teaching but goes beyond it, does not have God. The one who remains in that teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son.
So, there’s no shortage of warnings to make sure that we give attention to our spiritual health. One of the dangers in ministry is that I can pour so much energy into the spiritual development of others that I neglect my own spiritual well-being. I can be more like Martha and less like Mary (Luke 10:38-42).
New Habits
One of the biggest dangers for us in the time of COVID-19 restrictions is the development of habits which we are reluctant to leave behind when the restrictions are lifted. The regular gatherings that we once had can be replaced by other pursuits. Will I find it harder to go to my Bible study group or the weekly church service or the prayer meeting? Will I be reluctant to go back to the ministry I once had or to volunteer for the new ministry opportunity that might arise?
These are real risks for those of us who have become spiritually lazy at this time. We might be tempted to use the language of “I’m not comfortable returning to all the church stuff I did before” because we’ve actually made ourselves too comfortable in the freedoms we’ve experienced.
I recognise that many will be reading this and thinking “What’s he on about? My spiritual life has been given a boost at this time. The extra freedom has enabled me to prioritise my Bible reading and prayer life when it used to be sacrificed because of busyness.” Others may be thinking “I can’t wait to get back to what I did before.” If that’s you – terrific. Can I ask you to please pray for and encourage those for whom it’s tough.
Not Alone
For those who are doing it tough, can I remind you that you are not alone! There are others who know and share your struggle. Please be honest with and supportive of each other when it comes to talking about how you’re travelling. Know that you have God’s Spirit within you. When Jesus spoke with his disciples on the night before his death he gave this beautiful promise in John 14:15-16
15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. 17 He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn’t see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.
Also, it’s okay to pray to God in lament for what has been lost during this time of restrictions. The loss of routine, the loss of face to face fellowship, the loss of touch, the loss of enthusiasm, the loss of resistance to laziness and so on. Cry out to God and ask him to hold you, to strengthen you and to help you love his word and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.
“May the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely. And may your spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it”. – 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24