I increased my daily walk today from 4.2kms to 5.4kms unintentionally. On my walk, I decided to pop past the police station with a query. Due to being unable to get through to the Departments of Labour and the Unemployment Fund by telephone or email for about six weeks, I thought the best people to ask whether I may go there during lockdown would be the police. I stated that I have an SMS saying I must go to a local UIF Branch with my case number. The officer responded saying: “Yes, you have a reason to go there.” This delighted me.
Whilst walking, I passed two butcheries. One had a blockman walking in and out of his shop carrying things to stack on the pavement. He was smoking. The other had a blockman standing in the doorway of his shop smoking. I wondered whether they wash their hands before they cut meat and whether they know that smoking in shops is illegal. I immediately made up my mind that I would not purchase meat from these two butcheries.
My walk took me past a primary school. This morning, the teachers had set up tables over the pavement and parked cars almost against the tables. This they did in two roads, as the school is on a corner. There were packets of books on the tables, most likely for parents to collect for their children. Lots of elderly people had to walk into the busy road because of this. The teachers could have put the tables on the tarred part where cars park and keep the pavements open, but they chose not to.
Both the blockmen and teachers were thoughtless where it comes to clients (butchery) and were thoughtless regarding walkers, runners, people pushing prams and people walking dogs (school). They behaved irresponsibly! On the one hand, the blockmen satisfied their need without considering the need to wear face masks or uphold the law. On the other hand, the teachers were inconsiderate where it came to the use of and purpose of the pavement.
The Proverb is right when it says:
Pr 18:1 An unfriendly man pursues selfish ends; he defies all sound judgment.
The Study Bible translates this verse as “He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment.” This self-isolation is by misfits of society. The self-isolate from sound judgment with the intent of fulfilling selfish desires. Is this the blockmen and teachers? They did defy sound judgment. On the other hand, the police officer listened to my question carefully and provided me with sound counsel.
As you read the following passage, think of the “if” of verse 1, the “then” of verse 2, the “do nothing out of” of verse 3 coupled with the “buts” of verses 3 and 4, linking this to “your attitude” of verse 5.
Phil 2:1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Lord Jesus, please make me a student of Your Word, enabling me to know Your mind and character better so that I may dress myself with Your sterling attitude to serve all people, especially the family of God. Amen.