“Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the
plant. But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.” But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”
~ Jonah 4:6-9
REFLECT
We are beginning to reach the end of this strange Jonah story, and it’s not exactly the best conclusion of a story. To cut to the chase, Jonah preaches to Nineveh, and then makes his way outside the city and expresses his anger to God about Nineveh repenting. It was hot outside, and God graciously provided some shade for Jonah, yet his attitude towards Nineveh did not change. Because of this, the plant is destroyed, and Jonah is even more upset! Jonah is not even noticing the people in Nineveh coming to faith, but he is focused on this silly plant! What a waste of energy to focus on a plant! Jonah was putting his comfort as a higher priority than the calling God had given him to go and minister to the people of Nineveh. In the same way if we are not careful, our comfort can also get in the way of our calling. We can let the things we like, prefer, and even are comfortable with distract us from the work that God has called us to complete. We say things like, “I don’t want to pray for them” or “I don’t want to talk to that kind of person” or even “I don’t want to look weird to my friends.” What if we put our preferences to the side and realized the tons of people surrounding us who are struggling? Instead of focusing on your comfort, focus on leading and encouraging those around you in Christ.
PRAYER
Lord, today I commit to put my calling over my comforts! God, help me get out of my own space and truly focus today on those around me. Father, may my heart love people like Your heart does! I love you, God. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.