In the 4Th chapter of Jonah, after Jonah gets yakked up on the beach and finally gives in and goes to Nineveh and preaches God's message, he crawls up on a hill to watch what God will do with Nineveh. It's like he has been barely obedient to what God asked of him, nothing extra, no real sacrifice. God provides a shade tree to cover Jonah and then God causes the tree to die. Jonah goes from happy to wanting to commit suicide in one day. Jonah is so concerned about his immediate circumstances he doesn't care what happens to the 120,000 people in Nineveh. I believe secretly he would have been happy if God destroyed them. My first reaction is, Jonah you are a selfish jerk. But if we are honest with each other we all suffer from varying degrees of selfishness. Whether it is protecting our schedule under the guise of boundaries or just blatant disregard for others we are inherently selfish. Selfishness is a huge problem.
I find that I can rationalize my selfishness. I often remind myself of this lie that I have given my entire life to God and the church. I breeze through life in a big hurry and ignore many people around me. I go through the drive thru (my vehicle is often my dining room) grab my food, never look at the person who serves me, I pay for my gas to a person I never really see. I make quick judgments about people sometimes subconsciously about how they might look or what they might be doing.
Part of the missional life is slowing down enough to see the world around me, caring enough about humanity to die to self and give myself away to others.
I want to care about everyone I meet but the first step is to see them first. I am selfish, I rationalize my selfishness, I busy myself and it becomes a badge of honor for me. I make myself important enough that I don't have time for anyone else. I screen who I am nice to the same way we screen incoming calls. I admit my sins. I am selfish.
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Wow, once again God has used you to hit the nail on the head. He has been really dealing with me lately on this. In fact, right before I read this blog, I was saying my morning prayers, and once again asking forgiveness for my selfishness and judgemental spirt. It is so easy to put on a mask and act loving, but my prayer lately is that I remember each day that those people in my daily life that I really don't feel like loving, are people that my God made and He loves them.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to die to self and give to others, especially when they don't treat me very well in the first place. Although it has been "uncomfortable", the group of sermons you have been preaching the past few weeks have really made me examine my life and my heart. I feel like God is working on me so much in this area.
Thanks for being real John. Thanks for showing how even a preacher that is doing God's work, struggles some of the same stuff we do. We love ya! Diana
The teachings these past weeks have started a fire in my heart. God has blessed me and placed me to work in social services. I get paid to help people. I, unlike some, have the opportunity to be missional continuously throughout the day. Prior to the missional life series I would make quick judgments about people and question them endlessly to make sure they weren’t lying to me. Ok…I wasn’t that bad but I didn’t see the blessing of my position. I now pray every morning to be missional and that the language of my heart and my mouth both simultaneously show love. The fire is raging in my heart now, a few people have thanked me for my sincerity and now a few specifically ask to see me and I praise the Lord for the change He has made in me. I no longer feel burned out at the end of the day…I feel blessed. Thank you for laying it all out there and challenging us. ~ Chris : )
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