Christian Living
Attitude Adjustment
Can you think of a time when you were irritated by God’s mercy? Maybe God’s mercy was shown to someone that you didn’t think deserved it. Have there been times when you didn’t show mercy to someone who criticized you, attacked your position, or perhaps didn’t listen to your great advice? How did you react instead? If you’re like me, it’s likely you became angry and defiant. To the critic you might audaciously say, “why don’t you take the log out of your own eye.” To the attacker you might say, “Fine! You do it, I didn’t want to do it anyway.” And to the poor listener, a simple, “I told you so,” will probably be uttered.
On the other hand, maybe you don’t say anything. Perhaps you outwardly show compassion and understanding while the comments above, and likely others, swirl around in your head. So while you’re doing the right thing, what God would have you do, your attitude is loathsome.
Everyone knows the story of Jonah. God tells Jonah to go to Ninevah and tell them to repent. Jonah says “No way,” runs away on a boat, gets thrown out by the crew, swallowed by a fish, spit back up, gets the hint and goes to Ninevah to do what God told him to do. The Ninevites repent and everybody is happy, right? That’s the first three chapters in a nutshell. Then comes chapter 4, the part we don’t always get around to in Sunday school.
In chapter two, Jonah is happy just to be alive. He tells God of his thankfulness to have been thrown overboard and swallowed by a fish after he had sunk all the way to the ocean floor. He criticizes the heathens who worship false gods and turn up their noses to God’s mercy, then he promises to keep all his vows. The old “I owe you one,” that God has heard billions of times. Then we see Jonah go to Ninevah in chapter 3, save the people and assume that he learned his lesson.
Then the truth comes out. Suddenly in chapter 4, there is a child who has been asked to help Mom get the house ready for company to come over. He already knows from past experience that if he doesn’t, Mom isn’t going to make things easy for him. So he does what he’s asked and grumbles and pouts and slams doors the entire time. Obviously he doesn’t really want to help Mom out. He doesn’t like the invited guests anyway.
Jonah did what God asked and God’s purpose was revealed, the Ninevites repented and God was able to show his mercy. But that meant that Jonah’s prophecy of doom and destruction for Ninevah wasn’t going to come true. Jonah was irate that his authority and his reputation were going to suffer just so a bunch of non-Jews could be spared. So first he complained to the Lord about His unfailing grace, then says…can you believe this…? ”Why don’t you just kill me now?” Jonah 4:3 Now that I look like a fool and MY prophecy (as if it was his in the first place) isn’t going to come true, just put me out of my misery.
God’s response is classic Dr. Phil. “Is it right for you to be angry about this?” Jonah 4:4 Or, “you’re kidding me, right, Jonah? Do you hear what you’re saying?” Instead of answering, Jonah goes off to pout somewhere. Is it right for YOU to be angry because someone else is being shown a little mercy? Or because someone else is getting some of the recognition that you wanted? Are you going to go off and pout somewhere, or are you going to be happy for what God is doing in someone else’s life, whether they deserve it or not?
While Jonah is pouting, God causes a tree to grow over his head to shade him, then He provides a worm that kills the tree. Again, Jonah is angry. The Lord provided for him, and just to show who’s boss, He took it away. The tenth verse reminds Jonah, and us once again that nothing belongs to us. “Then the Lord said, ‘You feel sorry about the plant, though YOU did NOTHING to put it there…’” Jonah 4:10 emphasis mine. Since we have done nothing to put ourselves in any better position than anyone else to receive God’s blessing, is it right for us to be upset when someone is blessed?
"When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow." Romans 12:15
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Hi Fred. I apologize for contacting you this way, but I need to check something with you fairly urgently. Could you please send me a private message with your email address so I can contact you privately. With love, Deb (Challenge Coordinator)
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