Jonah 4:4 “Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry?”
What Your Emotions Say
What is important to you? No matter your answer, notice what you hear, see, and feel! Whether it is a mother waking to answer a newborn’s cry (while dad is fast asleep), a shopper buying a certain product (because of a familiar label), or an athlete crying tears of joy after winning a championship trophy, what is important to a person and his emotions are closely intertwined.
The things that elicit your emotions expose your priorities. Consider Jonah. He was a man full of emotion, and you see a wide range of emotions in Jonah chapter 4. Let’s consider each emotion and apply it to our lives today.
First of all, what makes you glad? Jonah was “exceeding glad” about a gourd that provided shade for him (verses 5-6). In essence, he was happy about comfort. Happiness is the goal when happiness is the priority. What are your goals? Do your goals revolve around people or things? Only people last; only people matter. Thank the Lord that someone made you a priority before you were saved!
Second of all, what makes you angry? Jonah was angry “even unto death” because the Lord took away the gourd (verse 9). Ironically, Jonah was angry because God was slow to anger and showed mercy to others. He was upset that Nineveh received God’s mercy when, in fact, he had also received the same mercy in the belly of a big fish! Jonah was angry because he was disappointed. What does it take to make you angry?
Third of all, what makes you take pity? Jonah had pity on a silly gourd that meant nothing. Today, there are several charitable causes that seek your pity (world hunger, malaria, etc.), but I wonder how much money we are spending on the Gospel? How much time are we spending on spreading the Gospel? Jonah had pity on a plant that helped no one except himself. What is important to you?
Jonah was a man driven by emotion. He was happy, angry, and felt pity, all in the same chapter. The lesson to remember is what elicits your emotions exposes your priorities. What do your emotions say about your priorities?