Jonah 4:6-8a

Jonah 4:6-8a (ESV): “6 Now the Lord God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. 7 But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint.”

God has one supreme concern in this world: people. Therefore, people should be the primary concern of all who belong to Him.

Jonah had zero empathy for the people of Nineveh. He showed concern for some—like the mariners during the storm—but he despised the Assyrians. He was so angry that God spared them that he went outside the city, sat on a hill, and sulked. So the Lord took Jonah to school through an object lesson involving a plant. The message was simple: stop being self-focused. God was teaching him the difficult but necessary lesson of dying to self. Only those who learn this lesson will ever be able to love all people as they ought.

Do you tend to make every situation in life about yourself? That mindset feeds the flesh and exalts self above all else. You will never be able to love others the way the Lord does if you refuse to die to self. Remember, you were crucified with Christ; it is no longer you who live, but Christ who lives in you. And when Christ lives through you, people—not self—become your primary focus. Amen?

Father, how difficult it is to die to self. Yet You empower us to do so. We repent of our Jonah-like attitudes. Holy Spirit, take the reins of our hearts and keep us focused on others. We pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.