Concern for What?

After all Jonah had been through he still had something to learn. It seems he was unhappy about everything. He was angry that wicked Nineveh had been spared its doom. And the vine God had caused to grow, God provided a worm to make it wither ( Jonah 4:7). Then God turned up the heat and Jonah again thought death was better than living (vs.8).

“(9) But God said to Jonah, ‘Do you do well to be angry for the plant?’ And he said, ‘Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.’ (10) And the Lord said, ‘YOU PITY THE PLANT, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. (11) And SHOULD NOT I PITY NINEVEH, THAT GREAT CITY, IN WHICH THERE ARE MORE THAN 120,000 PERSONS WHO DO NOT KNOW THEIR RIGHT HAND FROM THEIR LEFT, and also much cattle?’” ( Jonah 4:9-11 ESV)

Jonah, mad about Nineveh and mad about the vine, seemed to be mad at life! Not the day you would want to cross Jonah. He again stated that he was “angry enough to die” and felt he had a right to be angry. He should have been angry with himself! He had MORE CONCERN for this vine and his own comfort, than he did for a large city in need of direction. Was Jonah so caught up in himself and his world that he could not see the needs of others and the part he could play in helping?

Paul exhorted:
“(4) Let each of you LOOK NOT ONLY TO HIS OWN INTERESTS, BUT ALSO TO THE INTERESTS OF OTHERS. (5) HAVE THIS MIND among yourselves, WHICH IS YOURS IN CHRIST JESUS,” ( Philippians 2:4-5 ESV)

Jesus, the One who had more right to be angry over wickedness than any of us, emptied Himself, took on the form of a servant, and gave His life for humanity. He was so focused on our need He gave His all!

Jonah was angry about a vine that sprang up overnight and died overnight. The depth of wickedness in this world did not happen overnight! May we compassionately and patiently reach out to the lost, one soul at a time, to help them begin to see the wisdom of God’s direction.

We may focus on our many needs, but the real need is for God to open our eyes beyond ourselves.

Have a great day SHARING THE INTERESTS OF CHRIST!
Carl

See other teEn-MAIL on Jonah