Baking, gardening, family time—there have been some positives to home isolation. For many introverts (myself included) it has been, on the whole, a very good time indeed. Isolation has provided a wonderful excuse to spend more time alone. But now the restrictions are beginning to lift. Now we can visit each other’s homes and spend more time together in groups. There is rejoicing among those who have been desperate to get out again. But what about the people who are enjoying the isolation? Can’t we just stay home?
There may also be medical reasons for some people to be cautious about virus exposure. But here are three reasons why we should re-emerge from isolation and engage with the humans around us:
1. Other people need you
We don’t always remember it but other people need us. God has given everyone the ability to love and serve others. 1 Peter 4:8-11 says:
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (NIV)
This passage reminds us that we live under the command to “love each other deeply”. We are to love each other in a general sense but also according to our gifts. We are to be “faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms”. Nowadays that could mean hospitality, speaking words of encouragement in person, or practical service. Other people need you.
2. You need other people
During the restrictions we have learned to be more independent out of necessity. We may also, unfortunately, have become used to focusing on our own needs. Our work, church involvement and free time have changed to suit us. But God has designed us to depend on others.
In Paul’s discussion of the church as a body he says: “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’” (1 Corinthians 12:21).
We cannot say we don’t need others. We do need them, even if we’re quite comfortable by ourselves. We need their encouragement and love; we need their help and advice; we even need them to help us exercise our skills of patience and forbearance.
3. Re-emerging is pleasing to God
Hebrews 13:16 says: “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased”. Getting back out into regular life and church community will involve some sacrifice. It takes time and effort to get dressed, organise any children you have, organise transport and travel. It will take emotional energy to be around groups again. But we’ll be putting our time and energy into doing good and sharing with others. With such sacrifices, as we see in Hebrews, “God is pleased”.
We can be thankful for some of the positives about isolation but it is time to re-emerge. Other people need us, we need them, and God will be pleased by our sacrificial love and service.
God promises to help us with the hard work of obedience. Jesus is always with us (Matthew 28:20); his Spirit is in us (Romans 8:9) and the Father will encourage us (Romans 15:5). In this difficult time of re-emerging, Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians should be ours for each other as well:
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash