FROM DISAPPOINTMENT TO APPOINTMENT (Part 2)
Dealing with Self Pity
Jonah 1:1-4, 12-15, 17
Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” 3 But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. 4 But the Lord sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea so that the ship was about to be broken up… But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep 12 And he said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me.”…15 So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging… 17 Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah.
Jonah 2:10
10 So the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.
Jonah 3:4-10
4 And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, “Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. 6 Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. 7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying,
Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?
10 Then God saw their works that they turned from their evil way, and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.
Jonah 4:1-5
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. 2 So he prayed to the Lord, and said, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. 3 Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!”
5 So Jonah went out of the city and sat on the east side of the city. There he made himself a shelter and sat under it in the shade, till he might see what would become of the city.
INTRO
Self-pity is our sinful, selfish response to something not going the way we think it should. Feels like righteous indignation so we often justify it.
It’s dangerous: It shuts us down emotionally and spiritually, hardens our heart, chokes our faith, robs us of hope and fuels anger.
Self-pity is a feeder sin. It encourages us to indulge in comfort sins like gossip, slander, gluttony, excessive entertainment, substance abuse, pornography etc. It hurts our relationships and is a major cause of burnout. It does us no good. It is a weight we must lay aside.
I. SELF PITY AND JONAH
1. Self-Pity can cause you to disobey God.
Jonah 1:3
3 But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish
2. Self-Pity makes you run from God
Jonah 1:3
But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord
3. Self-Pity causes storms around you
Jonah 1:4
“…and there was a mighty tempest…”
4. Self- Pity Induces Depression
Jonah 1:4
But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep
Jonah 1:12
“Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you.
5. Self- Pity puts you in obscurity
Jonah 2:1 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly. And he said: I cried out to the Lord because of my afflictions.
6. It hardens you to good things around you.
Jonah 3:3, 5,10
3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh…Then he cried out and said, “Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them…10 Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it…But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry.
7. It keeps you waiting for God’s wrath
Jonah 4:5
5 So Jonah went out of the city and sat on the east side of the city. There he made himself a shelter and sat under it in the shade, till he might see what would become of the city.
Proverbs 17:5
5 He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
8. Self-Pity causes you to be self-absorbed and hard to live with
Jonah 4:10
10 But the Lord said, “You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night.
II. HOW TO DEAL WITH SELF PITY
1. Ask God for help
Luke 11:9
9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Self-pity like most sins is an expression of pride. Sometimes it’s hard to let go so ask the Lord for help.
2. Have a talk with yourself.
Remind yourself what God has done for you and what you really deserve. Count your blessings.
Psalm 42:5
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance.
3. Repent to God for the sin of self-pity
4. Repent to those Affected by Your Sin.
James 5:16
16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
5. Do what you have not been willing to do.
Answer Key: Self-pity, storms, depression, ask, repent
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