#21 Attitude Problem
You know, the story of Jonah sets an example for all Christians. However, it is not done in the way that we expect. He was, for all senses of the word, a prophet. He was a man chosen by God to deliver a word to a chosen people. In this case, the chosen people were less than desirable, the Ninevites. Jonah, not wanting to have any involvement with them, sailed away from the place he was called, abandoning the place he was called to. God decided to send a storm his way, and through a series of events, Jonah ended up in Nineveh delivering His message to the people. The people turned from their wicked ways and God showed them mercy; not destroying the city.
It’s here that Jonah reveals a common pitfall that people, especially Christians, can fall prey to. We see that even when he obeyed, Jonah had an attitude problem. Even though he was technically obedient, his heart was far from the people he was called to save. Instead of rejoicing in their deliverance and repentance, he throws a childish fit. He has an adult tantrum that reveals the true nature of his heart. He was angry at the compassion of the Lord.
My pastor and I talked about this false obedience. Jonah may have preached to the people, but his heart was wishing for their destruction. He wished for them to get what “HE” deemed they deserved. I can’t say that I haven’t fallen prey to that same wish at times in my life. There have been moments where I’ve asked God “why?” out of spite. It wasn’t necessarily because I deserved what someone else got, but I didn’t feel as though “THEY” deserved what they got. Was that selfish? Absolutely Was it surprising? Not at all. I own a scale of comparison that I constantly use to compare myself to the life of others.
This is not something I’m proud of, but it serves as a gauge to convince myself that I’m doing all right in life. I don’t feel like I’m at the bottom of the totem pole if someone is below me. This, really, stems from an incomplete understanding that my life is whole. God has blessed me and I should stand on the truth of who I am in Him. Jesus did that. Jesus knew who he was and didn’t waste time looking for life’s validation from the fall of others. His sole purpose was to save the lost, regardless of their circumstances. His gift of love came with no strings attached; unaffected by the desperate desire of man to look worthy to others. He really didn’t care. His mission was for the hearts of people and he accepted that completely.
