Focusing On God’s Kingdom
Jonah 4:1-3 (NLT)
This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”
In the final part of Jonah's story, he sees the fruit of God’s promise to save the city of Nineveh and yet indulges in an almighty 'pity-party' to the degree that he says he'd rather be dead! Jonah’s anger seems to be a kind of ‘I told you so’ to God - that he knew what God was like, what God would do, and so what was the point?
We may have felt like this at some point. If God is going to do what he wants anyway, then why need me? Why can’t God leave me alone, to have my own existence, lead a quiet life. But that is not God’s style. He wants us to be part of his plan to bring his kingdom here.
You'd think Jonah would have been amazed, in a positive way, that he had brought about the conversion of a major city. But that wasn’t his focus. Jonah instead focused on the fact that God was too ‘eager’ not to destroy people and that his own life was disrupted by something God would do anyway. The text tells that he was disturbed because what he predicted did not happen. Jonah was caught up in his own ego.
I must admit that in my own life, I, too, have descended into my own 'pity-party' - why does God need me? He is going to do what he’s going to do without me. The point is that we all matter to God. Of course, God can do things without us, but he prefers to work through us. God longs that we see ourselves as very important parts of building his kingdom and our contributions to his community matter greatly. It’s not about us feeding our egos; it’s about building his loving community with him.
Prayer - Lord help us to see that we are necessary parts of the way in which your kingdom is built. Help us to be less focused on our own lives and more focused on helping to bring your will here on earth.