horton's who
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learning about God's grace
| it's about me |
" Nobody drives like me. Nobody. I'm doing things in this car, you have no idea
they're going on."
Seinfeld - George in The Parking Space
Don’t you wish others noticed and acknowledged some of your valuable yet
undiscovered talents? – Like parallel parking, spreading mayonnaise evenly on a
loaf of bread, or doodling a perfectly round circle freehand. These are all
noteworthy and valuable, (I personally like globbed mayo, myself) but if we’re
being honest with one another, we probably all wished the world revolved around
us. We act like it does sometimes, anyway.
We live in a very self-centered world and we are self-centered people. With the
exception of the church bubble, there are probably rare moments when we display
acts of complete selflessness – American Idol Gives Back does not count. From
the moment we wake till we go to sleep our world for the most part is centered on
our comfort, wants, feelings, career advancement, hunger, thirsts, acceptance,
etc…
So, naturally, this idea of self-centeredness does not jive with a life in God.
Jonah 4:2 - …That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that You are a
gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God
who relents from sending calamity.
Most are familiar with the story of Jonah, but don’t find it relatable. But it’s not just
one for Sunday School. It’s a lesson in living a life for God, and not a life for self. It’
s an example of what happens to someone and the repercussions that follow
selfishness.
Jonah 4:2, gives the reason why the prophet ended up in the belly of a great fish. It
wasn’t because he was afraid to go to Ninevah, or because of what others might
think of him, or because the journey was too long. Jonah knew that God would
forgive the horrible people of Ninevah and he simply didn’t want that to happen.
He had a good life being a prophet to God’s people. He had a comfortable
understanding of right and wrong, of despising people that did not love God and
loving people that loved God. Eye for eye, tooth for tooth. God’s forgiveness,
compassion, and love for the Ninevites would totally undermine Jonah’s way.
Do you ever feel like God gets in your way sometimes? How dare God try to shake
up your comfortable way of life and make your life about what He wants!
Jonah’s lack of seeing things God’s way and allowing self-centeredness to lead
caused a domino effect. First, it caused him to run from God. Second, it brought
anguish and despair on unsuspecting shipmates head for Tarshish. And third, it
warped a clear understanding of God’s love and ways. So we can safely assume
that our self-centered life causes the dominos to hit the floor as well.
When we live life only for ourselves, we are definitely going the opposite way of
God. Deliberately or ignorantly, it will cause us to move away from God. It may
make sense to our minds to do what we do – we can justify any wrong – but
selfish living is Godless living.
Self-centeredness brings anguish and despair to people around us. Be it the
unknown sad face across the world or the family member inside our house, our
selfishness brings hurt to people. It’s inevitable. Again, we can justify any wrong
we do – don’t say, “I’m only hurting myself!”
At the end of the story, Jonah was so mad because God allowed his comfortable
shade to be eaten away and he grew faint because of the sun’s heat on his head
that he didn’t even understand the enormity of his God called task. Thousands of
people would die if it had not been for Jonah’s call but he didn’t care about that.
He cared for his comfort.
When we live according to our needs and not according to God’s purpose, we
terribly misconstrue the truth and enormity of God’s love and plan.
Sometimes I do wish the world revolved around me. My under-valued talent of
cookie baking would be praised by all. But our world – as God followers –
revolves around God. It’s about His plan, His love. He will use whatever talent we
have for His glory, not ours.
How do we live selfless lives? The first thing is to do what God wants.
they're going on."
Seinfeld - George in The Parking Space
Don’t you wish others noticed and acknowledged some of your valuable yet
undiscovered talents? – Like parallel parking, spreading mayonnaise evenly on a
loaf of bread, or doodling a perfectly round circle freehand. These are all
noteworthy and valuable, (I personally like globbed mayo, myself) but if we’re
being honest with one another, we probably all wished the world revolved around
us. We act like it does sometimes, anyway.
We live in a very self-centered world and we are self-centered people. With the
exception of the church bubble, there are probably rare moments when we display
acts of complete selflessness – American Idol Gives Back does not count. From
the moment we wake till we go to sleep our world for the most part is centered on
our comfort, wants, feelings, career advancement, hunger, thirsts, acceptance,
etc…
So, naturally, this idea of self-centeredness does not jive with a life in God.
Jonah 4:2 - …That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that You are a
gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God
who relents from sending calamity.
Most are familiar with the story of Jonah, but don’t find it relatable. But it’s not just
one for Sunday School. It’s a lesson in living a life for God, and not a life for self. It’
s an example of what happens to someone and the repercussions that follow
selfishness.
Jonah 4:2, gives the reason why the prophet ended up in the belly of a great fish. It
wasn’t because he was afraid to go to Ninevah, or because of what others might
think of him, or because the journey was too long. Jonah knew that God would
forgive the horrible people of Ninevah and he simply didn’t want that to happen.
He had a good life being a prophet to God’s people. He had a comfortable
understanding of right and wrong, of despising people that did not love God and
loving people that loved God. Eye for eye, tooth for tooth. God’s forgiveness,
compassion, and love for the Ninevites would totally undermine Jonah’s way.
Do you ever feel like God gets in your way sometimes? How dare God try to shake
up your comfortable way of life and make your life about what He wants!
Jonah’s lack of seeing things God’s way and allowing self-centeredness to lead
caused a domino effect. First, it caused him to run from God. Second, it brought
anguish and despair on unsuspecting shipmates head for Tarshish. And third, it
warped a clear understanding of God’s love and ways. So we can safely assume
that our self-centered life causes the dominos to hit the floor as well.
When we live life only for ourselves, we are definitely going the opposite way of
God. Deliberately or ignorantly, it will cause us to move away from God. It may
make sense to our minds to do what we do – we can justify any wrong – but
selfish living is Godless living.
Self-centeredness brings anguish and despair to people around us. Be it the
unknown sad face across the world or the family member inside our house, our
selfishness brings hurt to people. It’s inevitable. Again, we can justify any wrong
we do – don’t say, “I’m only hurting myself!”
At the end of the story, Jonah was so mad because God allowed his comfortable
shade to be eaten away and he grew faint because of the sun’s heat on his head
that he didn’t even understand the enormity of his God called task. Thousands of
people would die if it had not been for Jonah’s call but he didn’t care about that.
He cared for his comfort.
When we live according to our needs and not according to God’s purpose, we
terribly misconstrue the truth and enormity of God’s love and plan.
Sometimes I do wish the world revolved around me. My under-valued talent of
cookie baking would be praised by all. But our world – as God followers –
revolves around God. It’s about His plan, His love. He will use whatever talent we
have for His glory, not ours.
How do we live selfless lives? The first thing is to do what God wants.