What Really Matters

Intro

- Opening illustration- soccer- distractions- game within a game- the greatest players have laser focus

o The same thing can happen to us in life, and we see that in Jonah’s life

o For Jonah's sake, I wish we could have ended the book in chapter three- he would have been a hero!

§ But there is a greater purpose for this book than just showing us the mercy of God. God wants us to understand Jonah's heart, his mixed-up priorities, and to see ourselves in his struggle.

- There are so many things that can distract us from what really matters in this life, but we must be resolved to prioritize our view of God, the mission he has given us, and the souls of those around us.

God's Character over my sense of fairness

A. Jonah's motives revealed

1. He knew God would spare the Ninevites if they repented- he didn’t want to give them a chance!

a. He knew that they would eventually be responsible for Israel's destruction

b. He knew that he could be branded a false prophet- he announced destruction and they weren't destroyed

c. So in some sense, we understand Jonah’s frustration- it wasn’t just because he was a terrible person. He experienced the emotion, fear, and anger that we very well may have felt in a similar situation.

2. Jonah knew God was merciful and that he offers forgiveness, but he just didn't want the Ninevites to know it

a. Illustration- keeping something good to ourselves- Palau packages- exciting to get packages- Heather's

B. Jonah angrily questions God’s actions

1. We may not understand what God is doing or why he is doing it, but we can never question him in anger

2. What was Jonah forgetting about God?

a. When we get upset with God, when we fail to trust him, when we throw up our hands in frustration with his plan, we are forgetting something about his character.

b. Maybe, like Jonah, we are forgetting his absolute sovereignty over all things, or his love for us

(1) We often lack perspective

(2) Illustration- kids showing me something right next to my face- we can’t see the picture clearly, but God can

3. How often do we think God should think and act like us- "God, why aren't you doing it this way! It would be so much better!" "God, you're aren’t being fair. You aren't being loving. You aren't giving me what I need!"

a. God is God… he is the most capable and qualified person for his job… he doesn't make mistakes

b. So we must trust him

c. What causes us to think we know more than God? Pride

4. V.2- "I knew this would happen!"- despite Jonah's anger, he knew God's character from the beginning. God's mercy did not take him by surprise.

a. Exodus 34:6-7 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

b. Jonah is viewing these attributes of God as weaknesses to his character!

(1) Illustration- person is so nice, it makes me angry!- why doesn’t this upset them!?

(2) When our perception of what is right or fair contrasts with the very character of God, we know something is wrong

c. God shows his mercy and that he is slow to anger even with Jonah

C. Contrast Jonah’s prayers

1. From the belly of the fish- from a repentant heart- spare me!

2. In the midst of a spiritual revival- from an angry heart- kill me!

- Transition- v. 5- Jonah still doesn't want to acknowledge God's mercy

o He sets up a little hut overlooking the city and waits, hoping God will change his mind and destroy them

God's Mission over my comfort

A. The lesson from the plant

1. Gave Jonah something he liked and then used it to expose his selfishness

a. Jonah was "exceedingly glad" for his own comfort, but wished death and destruction on the Ninevites

2. V.6-7 When we place things above God, even good things, things that God gives us, he will take them away

3. God in his sovereignty has the power to give life, and to take it away- to deliver and to destroy

a. Contrast between vv 6 and 7

B. Jonah's anger part 2

1. This time Jonah’s anger over the loss of his own comfort

a. So Jonah is angry when God doesn't destroy Nineveh and when God does destroy the plant

2. We live in a world with mixed up priorities- abortion, view of marriage

a. As Christians we need to be pointing others to truth, not mixing up our own priorities! Comfort over the lost souls of those around us

b. But we do it too!

3. The problem of entitlement

a. Jonah had no right to be angry, be cause he was not the creator or sustainer of either the plant or the people

4. We can get so consumed with the pursuit of comfort, especially in this culture that we live in

a. Jonah didn't love the plant; he was not attached to it. he simply loved the comfort that it gave him

(1) Illustration of putting a lot of time and care into a plant and it dies

C. Jonah wants to die after

1. First (v.3) because of God's mercy, and second (v.8) because of God's destruction

2. God has the right to deliver and to destroy

3. Jonah can't understand why God would do this! He spares something that is evil and destroys something that is good How could he do this!?

God's People over my distractions

A. In Jonah’s quest for what he thought was fair and his pursuit of comfort, he lost sight of the most important thing, the souls of men.

1. Our mission is ultimately about reaching others with the Gospel of Christ. That’s why we are here!

2. We cannot do that without a genuine, Christlike love for others

3. It may not be that we hate others, but do we care enough about them to set aside our distractions and pursue them?

B. God had a deep love for the people in Nineveh, despite their wickedness

1. Because they were his. He created them in his image

a. We must see people as God sees them, bearers of his image

2. If we are honest with ourselves, we need God’s mercy just as much as anyone

a. This story is as much about God’s patience and mercy toward Jonah as it is about his mercy toward the Ninevites

Conclusion

- And this is where the book ends. We don’t even see Jonah’s answer to God’s question.

o We are left with an angry prophet, consumed by the many distractions that pull is heart from God’s

- We have learned much from the life of Jonah, but hopefully two themes shine through

o God has given us a mission, and the strength we need to complete it. We cannot allow ourselves to get distracted by the many things in this world and in our own hearts that attempt to pull us away from knowing who God is and what he has called us to do

o God loves to show mercy. He pours it out on the underserving, that’s us, when we turn and acknowledge him as our Lord and Savior. And it is that same mercy that we must show to others.