Jonah 4, 1 Timothy 3

Jonah 4

Psalm 4:4 says, “In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.”

I feel a different emotion today when reading Jonah than I ever have. I’m thankful. I’m actually encouraged by Jonah. I’m reminded of his humanity (in light of my own) in the very first verse of chapter four. It says that he was displeased and became angry. Scripture clearly tells us that anger in itself is not sin (Psalm 4:4). I guess that’s because as flesh we will have emotions that are crazy. God knows that already, but many times I feel guilty for the thought to even pop into my mind. Many times they will not make sense. But at that moment we have an opportunity to choose God.

Have you ever spent time “pondering” what life used to be like prior to living for Christ. Have you ever struggled with a moment of “splurging” or doing something you enjoyed in the flesh with absolutely NO intention of doing it again, but pondering it and remembering what it was like? That’s a dangerous place.

James teaches us that each one of us is enticed by our own fleshly desires. That we are taken captive and there is moment prior to us acting where we can choose to “entertain” those sinful options or RUN away. Unfortunately, we have this idea that as long as we just keep it in our mind and fart around with it, as long as we don’t act on it, that it is okay. James reminds us that in that moment is when it “gives birth to sin”.

I see Jonah sitting on this hill pondering all this stuff. Instead of recognizing it as God’s grace, he spends time “thinking through” what he wanted to happen. Dangerous.

God asked him twice, “Do you have any right to be angry?”

What a great question for us to ask ourselves. “Do you have any right?” If that doesn’t put it in perspective, I don’t know what will. God, as we live our lives and face issues, dilemmas, and make choices. While thoughts are in our mind, may we take them captive and submit them to you. Give us strength that in our anger, in our selfishness, in our pride, in our agendas, keep us from sinning. Help us choose you.

1 Timothy 3

Apparently, I’m all about verse one today. I just can’t get past it without being provoked in my spirit. How awesome and full is God’s Word! In verse 1, Paul starts, “Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.”

How cool is that? We are indeed, held captive by the lists and qualifications for an overseer of the church through the following scriptures, but listen to the heart of God in this verse. He KNOWS this is a humbling challenge to each of us, but he also knows that in order to even begin this consideration of office, we have to be in a place of desiring to honor God and seek after the things of Him!

In the wording Paul uses, if anyone “set’s his heart”, we find the same Greek word used later in the verse (obviously a different tense) for the word “desire”. In fact, in most translations (like NAS) use the word desire twice.

The base of that Greek word for desire literally means, “To stretch oneself”. So Paul is saying if any of us is willing to stretch ourselves, challenge ourselves, step out of our safe little box, live beyond our personal abilities, etc, etc, etc… He is desiring a noble task!

God knows we are stretched and don’t deserve it. God knows we are incapable without Him, that’s why it requires that we realize we are incapable before he gives us the desire to be stretched. That’s why he chose Paul who realized he was a “Chief among sinners”, so that God might be glorified.

God, help us to stop trying to be “worthy” of being an overseer for the sake of actually being “worthy”. Instead, God give us the attitude of the heart and mind that we would literally chase after being stretched by you, with thanksgiving in our hearts, that YOUR will might be done, on earth as it is in heaven!

Okay, one more thing, ‘cause I can’t get away from it, and it’s sweet!

Paul says, this person “desires a noble task.” Other translations call it a “good work” or even a “fine work”. The word used that is translated noble, good, or fine, comes from the Greek meaning “beautiful, valuable, and virtuous”. There is another word translated the same but is distinguished from this one because it means these things as an intrinsic value, Paul chose not to use it. What does that mean to us? That this is a beautiful, valuable, and virtuous task that is NOT natural (intrinsic) to us. I’m so encouraged by that because it means it’s only from God, He knows it’s not our nature to even want to be stretched outside of us, He knows we will have doubts, struggles, and insecurities as we seek to lead in His church, but we have the privilege of remembering it comes as a gift from Him alone when we are… willing.