“Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life.” The Lord said, “Do you have good reason to be angry?”

                                                                                                               Jonah 4:3-4 

For what or for whom are we willing to die? Some might say that they would die for our country. Others might die for a cause in which they believe or for someone in whom they love. As Christians, we should all be willing to die (if necessary) for the sake of the gospel. But when we make the decision to die for a cause, we need to make sure that it is worthy of that level of sacrifice. Jonah wanted to die but he wasn’t pledging allegiance to a cause rather he wanted to die because of God’s goodness toward Nineveh.

I believe it is a fair question to ask, “How much do we have to despise others in order for their prosperity to profoundly affect our spiritual lives?” Jealousy, envy, and hatred are not a part of a healthy Christian existence. In fact, the opposite is true. We are instructed to “rejoice with those who rejoice and to mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15). Authentic, spiritually healthy believers is always willing to walk down a road with someone else, bringing empathy (if possible) and compassion along with them. That is what it truly means to represent Christ on earth. But in Jonah’s case we see the very opposite. He certainly wasn’t rejoicing with the people of Nineveh. As God relented, bringing restoration and redemption to that city, Jonah took on the opposite attitude as that of a godly man. He not only didn’t rejoice with them, he was so angry and distraught over God’s goodness that he wanted to die. That’s right, he wanted to die. Jonah’s life had gone south. Consider his words to God:

“Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life.”  

God responds to Jonah’s request by asking him a very direct question, “Do you have good reason to be angry?” Before continuing, let’s answer that question. Of course he didn’t have a good reason to be angry. He had absolutely no reason at all. I wonder how often we may find ourselves harboring a similar attitude? I believe that God would be asking us the very same question.

I believe it is always a good idea for us to stay in a constant state of thankfulness toward God and to continually offer Him praise for what He has done and continues to do in our lives. I believe that by doing so, we position ourselves to appreciate and enjoy life and to be happy and content with the things with which God has blessed us.

Jonah had everything that he needed. He knew God. He had a calling on his life. He had purpose and the power of God in his life to accomplish that purpose. He was the recipient of God’s blessing as he was rescued from certain death. He was given a second chance to take part in being God’s messenger to the people of Nineveh. He was living in direct contact with God and enjoying the benefits of knowing Him. But perhaps somewhere along the way, Jonah became complacent and forgot all of these truths. For he was living by the very grace of God but wasn’t able to translate that tremendous existence into the lives of a people so desperately in need of it as well.

As believers, are we aware of the tremendous blessings that God has given us? Are we thankful that we are “the called out ones?” And most importantly, are we able to translate those blessings into the lives of those around, many of who so desperately need to know the goodness of God in their own lives?

Make a point today to give God thanks for what He has done and continues to do in your life then make a resolution to live for Him, extending those blessings into the lives of those around you.