Selfishness
The story of Jonah has many dynamics from which we can learn. One of the main points of this true story is that Jonah was selfish from the beginning to the end. If anyone could ever be justified in being selfish, it is God, but even God is never selfish, and He never wants us to be selfish. God is love, and He does whatever it takes to help us know Him and have life, including sending the Lord Jesus to earth to be our Savior. Jesus did all of that out of love for humanity. However, at the end of the book of Jonah he cared more for a little plant and for himself, than he did for all of the people of Nineveh.(Jonah 4:10,11) God tried to teach Jonah a lesson. I hope he got it, and I hope we get it.
If we are concerned about ourselves and our comfort, we will not be effective in reaching out to others and showing them the way to the Lord. If we are self-centered, we will think we are righteous, and they deserve their punishment, so why care about them. Selfishness is the opposite of godliness and Christ-likeness. We should eliminate it from our lives by allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us into the the image of Christ. He humbly gave Himself for all people, suffering and dying in a totally unselfish act. His concern was for us, not for Himself.
Jonah ran from God because of selfishness. He prayed from the belly of the fish selfishly. He only preached to Nineveh because he felt like he had to do it. He never cared for the people, so that when they repented he was angry. He sat down to watch what happened, and he was thankful for the shade created by a plant God gave Him, but even that was selfish. Then, when a bug killed the plant, he cared more for a bug and a plant, than for 120,000 people. He wanted to die, if he could not have his way and be comfortable. I know it seems extreme, but it fits many people today, even believers, who act selfishly all of the time.
Let's ask God to give us His heart of love for others, so we can cease from selfishness. Let's truly seek the well being of those around us who need the Lord by giving our time, energy, and money to see them saved. Let's have the mind of Christ in all we do. That is living life to the fullest.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Micah 3-5
If we are concerned about ourselves and our comfort, we will not be effective in reaching out to others and showing them the way to the Lord. If we are self-centered, we will think we are righteous, and they deserve their punishment, so why care about them. Selfishness is the opposite of godliness and Christ-likeness. We should eliminate it from our lives by allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us into the the image of Christ. He humbly gave Himself for all people, suffering and dying in a totally unselfish act. His concern was for us, not for Himself.
Jonah ran from God because of selfishness. He prayed from the belly of the fish selfishly. He only preached to Nineveh because he felt like he had to do it. He never cared for the people, so that when they repented he was angry. He sat down to watch what happened, and he was thankful for the shade created by a plant God gave Him, but even that was selfish. Then, when a bug killed the plant, he cared more for a bug and a plant, than for 120,000 people. He wanted to die, if he could not have his way and be comfortable. I know it seems extreme, but it fits many people today, even believers, who act selfishly all of the time.
Let's ask God to give us His heart of love for others, so we can cease from selfishness. Let's truly seek the well being of those around us who need the Lord by giving our time, energy, and money to see them saved. Let's have the mind of Christ in all we do. That is living life to the fullest.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Micah 3-5