Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Anger”
Our Bible verse for today: “But the Lord replied, ‘Have you any right to be angry?” Jonah 4:4 (NIV)
Our thought for today: “Stop pouting.”
It’s a good question, “Have you any right to be angry?” And if we’re honest, most of the time the answer would have to be “no”. The truth is that we often get angry about the silliest things. I’m reminded of the 70 year old man who was arrested for shooting his wife. When questioned by the police as to why he shot her he replied, “She burnt my toast”. The police were incredulous. The detective replied in astonishment, “You shot your wife because she burnt your toast?” And the man replied, “Yes. But she has also burnt it every day for the last 50 years!”
In Jonah’s case he was angry because God was showing mercy to the Ninevites. Now granted, the Ninevites were mean and cruel and Jonah didn’t like them. But God had sent Jonah to the city of Nineveh to call the people to repentance so they would change their ways. But Jonah was sure they would not repent. In fact, he was counting on it. Because then God would pour out judgment upon them and they would get what they deserved. And Jonah would get to see it. And I believe he was looking forward to it.
But then, to Jonah’s astonishment, the people did repent and God did forgive them and judgment was averted. And what was Jonah’s response to that unexpected outcome? He pouted. It didn’t turn out the way he had hoped it would, so he sat down under a tree to have himself a good sulk.
That’s why we have God’s question to Jonah in 4:4, “Have you any right to be angry?” It was like a parent trying to reason with a sulky six year old: “Now Johnny, do you really think you have any right to be mad?” In verse 9 God even asked Jonah a second time if he really had any right to be angry and Jonah responded just like a sulky six year old by saying, “I do! I’m angry enough to die!” (I’m going to hold my breath until I turn blue and die. Then you’ll be sorry!)
I’m chuckling as I write this because I’m embarrassingly aware of how much this sounds like me at times (and like you). We get angry over the silliest things. And then we pout. And when someone points out to us how silly it is to be angry about this particular thing, we cross our arms tight across our chest, stick out our lower lip, drop our chin to our chest, and glare at them!
What’s the solution? It’s time to put on your big boy pants and grow-up. You’re a mature Christian man or woman so act like it. Don’t sulk and don’t pout. Be big enough to admit that this is a silly thing to be upset about and from now on you’ll just make your own toast (or whatever your particular silly thing happens to be).
Many times the things we get mad about are ridiculous and silly. And then to stay mad about them is simply juvenile. Christian maturity requires of us that we not get angry over silly things, and certainly that we don’t stay mad about them.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 