What Are You Concerned About?

Have you met people with extreme mood swing? Or are you one of them?
 
Here in Jonah 4:1-11 we see the extreme mood change of Jonah.
 
In v.1-3 he was so angry that he prayed for death. Then in v.6 he was "extremely happy." But in v.8-9 he was so angry again, even to death.
 
We read in Jonah 4:10-11, Then the LORD said, "You had compassion on the plant for which you did not work and which you did not cause to grow, which came up overnight and perished overnight. 11 Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals?"
 
God was saying, "Jonah, you care so much about the plant, but you have no concern for what I really care about."
 
What does God care about? God cares about PEOPLE!
 
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
 
God's heartbeat is for people. Sadly, God's people do not always share His heartbeat. The story of Jonah is one good example to teach us about right priorities in life.
 
What Are You Concerned About:

1.            Possessions or People?
 
Jonah was so concerned about his plant, which wasn’t even really his. God was concerned about the people in Nineveh.
 
We are to love people and use things, but instead we love things and use people.
 
Things will pass, but people are forever. Why? People have a living, eternal soul.
 
Mark 6:36-37 "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? 37 For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"
 
Souls are precious and priceless!
 
Jesus gave His all to save the lost. What have we given?
 
So, what is really more important to you, possessions or people?
 
2.            Comfort or Compassion?
 
The plant gave shade to Jonah, kept him comfortable. He was busy pursuing his personal comfort rather than having compassion on the needs of others.
 
While we are busy upkeeping our prosperous life, children in Cambodia are wasting away in hunger and suffering.
 
While we are busy enjoying our comfortable life, lost and dying souls are heading towards eternal punishment in hell.
 
Have we no compassion for the lost and the poor?
 
The biblical principle is: To whom much is given,  much is required.
 
It takes sacrifice to save the lost and help the poor.

So, what is really more important to you, comfort or compassion?

​3.            Self-Will or God's Will?
 
In the story of Jonah, everything obeyed God's will except Jonah himself.
 
Jesus teaches us to pray for God’s will to be done.
 
Matthew 6:9-10 Pray, then, in this way: "Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven."
 
Missions is God's will.

Jesus gave us the Great Commission, not the great suggestion.
 
If what you want is more important than what God wants, then look carefully into your heart.
 
Is God on the throne of your life, or is it the big old, ugly SELF that is there?
 
Missions begins with surrender and completes with sacrifice.
 
The book of Jonah ended with a question.
 
We can’t answer for Jonah, but we can answer for ourselves. What is your answer to God? 

---