The Saved Castaway: A Message for the Students and Teachers (Part VII)

Sermon Title: Castaway: A Message for the Students and Teachers

Good News Statement: God provides and opens our eyes

Preached: Sunday, August 20th, 2023, at Dogwood Prairie and Seed Chapel UMC

Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.

 

Scripture (NRSV): Jonah 4:1-11– Today’s Scripture reading comes from the Book of Jonah chapter four verses one thru eleven. In these verses we witness a prophet become angry with God, question God, and in some way disbelieve because he can’t think beyond himself. We must remember what the Lord provides, he can take away; and that we are called to be good to others.

Jonah’s Anger

4 But this was very displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry. ² He prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning, for I knew that you are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from punishment. ³ And now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” ⁴ And the Lord said, “Is it right for you to be angry?” ⁵ Then Jonah went out of the city and sat down east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, waiting to see what would become of the city.

⁶ The Lord God appointed a bush and made it come up over Jonah, to give shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort, so Jonah was very happy about the bush. ⁷ But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the bush, so that it withered. ⁸ When the sun rose, God prepared a sultry east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint and asked that he might die. He said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”

Jonah Is Reproved

⁹ But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the bush?” And he said, “Yes, angry enough to die.” ¹⁰ Then the Lord said, “You are concerned about the bush, for which you did not labor and which you did not grow; it came into being in a night and perished in a night. ¹¹ And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left and also many animals?”

 

This is the Word of God for the People of God; And all God’s people said, “Thanks be to God.”

 

Introduction:

A child comes home from his first day of school and his mother asked them, “What did you learn today?” The child says, “Not enough. I have to go back tomorrow!”

The Teacher told a student to get rid of his drink because there are no drinks in class. The student responded, “I got it from my doctor and he told me to drink it.” The teacher asked, “Who’s your doctor?” And the student responded, “Dr. Pepper.          

It’s that time of year again! Children are returning to school with backpacks full of brand new packages of crayons, markers, colored pencils, pencils and pens, notebooks, folders, binders, rulers, glue sticks, and paints. They have fresh haircuts and some of them have new shoes and new clothes for this special time of year. In their new backpacks are special lunches with their favorite snacks—which are eaten on the way to school as they sit next to their best friend on the school bus.

The teachers, liberians, art teachers, reading aids, administration, school bus drivers, cafeteria workers, janitors, and many others are realizing that one mug or thermos or can of their favorite beverage is not enough to get them through the day. Parents are going through an array of emotions as they realize their kids are growing up, following their dreams, becoming more independent,  but at the same time are excited to have the house to themselves once again. It’s that time of year again! School is in session!

Thinking about school, and every student, teacher, administrator, school bus driver, and many others, we are reminded that school is the place where we begin to either search for or find our purpose: those things, ideas, and reasons that interest us, motivate us, encourage us, and challenges us. In school, we turn our purpose, much like Jonah did, from a noun into a verb—into an action, into life. Speaking of Jonah, in the third chapter of his book, we witnessed last week how Jonah’s entering into the great and wicked city of Nineveh provided us with purposeful takeaways that can help us fulfill our God-given purpose.

When Jonah entered Nineveh, he proclaimed an eight word message that God had given him back in chapter one: “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (3:4). This message caused “a hundred and twenty thousand persons” (4:11) to repent and to receive compassion from the LORD. As readers of that text, we are given our own eight word message: “You have a God given purpose, now go.” From this God-given purpose, we are called to go immediately, without procrastination, to where God needs His message shared; to become leaders and doers of the faith and salvation given to you through the cross; to embrace the messages that God lays on our heart; and to administer compassion to all those whom we meet. We all have a purpose in this life. God has told you to do something, to share your faith, to start a new ministry or small group, to find ways to connect with the community, to tend to the needs of your neighbor, and to become a walking and breathing example of Jesus Christ. Now’s the time to bring that purpose to life. God’s purpose, your purpose, is not meant to be kept within but to be put into action. From Jonah Chapter Three we learn, just like each and every student will learn, that we, you, have a purpose, and now is the time to put that purpose into action.

Today, we add to our purpose. Jonah Chapter Four offers us three important takeaways that we need to think about; and these takeaways are for us but specifically for the students and teachers as they embark on a new School year. First, because of God’s compassion and forgiveness, we are more than your brokenness. Second, what God provides, He can take away. And third, by living out the Golden Rule we learn to not always think about ourselves. God expands our purposes to include others.

Body:

When writing his commentary on the Book of Jonah, James Bruckner notes, “Jonah Chapter Four focuses on the prophet’s relationship with God as they dialogue about Jonah’s anger over the ways of Yahweh.” In this specific text, God argues His preference for compassion, even in horrible circumstances. God has compassion for what he has made (no matter how ignorant, abusive, or violent the culture). Because of God’s relenting compassion for the people of Nineveh—the wicked people of Nineveh—Jonah is angry. To ease Jonah’s anger, God attempts to teach Jonah a lesson through a vine, a worm, and scorching east winds; but Jonah refuses to receive God’s teaching. The lesson that God wants Jonah to receive is “God’s basic response of compassion for living things is more important than strict justice.” God’s primary argument is creational. Bruckner states, “God loves all His creation, for He is gracious and compassionate.” Because God loves us, we are more than our brokenness. We are given provisions. And we have the tools to treat others the way we want to be treated.

First, We Are More Than Our Brokenness. The most popular theme to preach on when preaching from Jonah Chapter Four is not so much on Jonah’s anger—and relating to the notion that we have all been angry with God for something that has happened in our life in which we prayed for not to have happen—but on God’s compassion and forgiveness toward a wicked people. God saw their brokenness and offered them a chance to forgive.

Jonah 4:1-5 assert, “But this was very displeasing to Jonah, [referring to God’s compassion upon Nineveh] and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord and said, ‘O Lord! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning, for I knew that you are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from punishment. And now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.’ And the Lord said, ‘Is it right for you to be angry?’ Then Jonah went out of the city and sat down east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, waiting to see what would become of the city.”

At the beginning of this text, we find Jonah leaving the city, possibly disgusted at what God has chosen to do. Jonah is angry with God, even though he has no right to be. Although Jonah may have consented to obey God’s call, in his heart Jonah disagrees with what God has chosen to do. Jonah is angry. To some degree, Jonah was hoping for the God described in the Book of Nahum: “a jealous, avenging, wrathful, forceful, punisher of the guilty kind of God” (Nahum 1). But instead the God that comforts the Ninevites is a God that is gracious, merciful, compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from punishment kind of God (Jonah 4:2). Jonah is broken inside because this is not what he thought would happen: he was hoping for chaos and destruction rather than forgiveness and acceptance.

Jonah is so broken and angry that he tells God, “Please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live” (4:3). In his brokenness and anger, Jonah “went out of the city and sat down east of the city and made a booth for himself there…sat under it in the shade, waiting to see what would become of the city” (4:5). Jonah is having an Indiana Jones moment: escaping the city just in time to see its destruction and fall.

Jonah’s brokenness reminds me of a book I read the summer going into my senior year at Augustana College. It took me all summer to read, but I’m glad I didn’t give up on it. Author and lawyer, Bryan Stevenson, in his book Just Mercy, tells of his story of defending the innocent lives who have been placed behind bars so that they may once again experience a life of justified mercy—sort of like a modern-day To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee if you have ever read that book or seen the 1962 movie. Towards the end of his book, he writes about brokenness. Stevenson writes, “We are bodies of broken bones…. Being broken is what makes us human. We all have our reasons. Sometimes we’re fractured by the choices we make; sometimes we’re shattered by things we would never have chosen. But our brokenness is also the source of….something that is empowering, liberating, and transformative.” That something is what Stevenson calls “mercy”—the love, compassion, and forgiveness from and of God.

Jonah is angry; but he is also broken and in need of God’s mercy. Jonah’s trust in God is fractured. Jonah’s faith in God is shattering to pieces. Just like the Ninevites, Jonah wants to be seen, heard, and loved but he doesn’t feel like God is seeing, hearing, or loving him. Students and Teachers, in the opening verses to Jonah Chapter Four, you are reminded that you will encounter moments when you feel broken, when you feel angry, when you feel stressed, when you feel worried, when you feel overwhelmed, when you feel like staying home instead of going to school, and when you feel like no one is listening to you or seeing you. But remember, that God—the one who is gracious, merciful, forgiving, slow to anger, patient, and abounding in steadfast love—is watching over you, is waiting to heal your brokenness, mend your fractures, and, through His mercy, remind you that you matter. No matter what people may say about you or to you, you matter and you are important. It’s okay to feel broken and it’s okay to lean on God when anger creeps into your heart. God heals your brokenness. There is not time to be angry with God or with anyone.

Second, We Are Given Provisions. A few weeks ago, I shared with you that the LORD provides for you. Matthew 25:35-36 states, “[F]or I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” God provides us with food, with drink, with shelter, with clothing, with His presence and so much more.

God also provides us with rest (Matthew 11:28-30). God provides us with peace (Philippians 4:7 and Romans 5:1). God provides us direction (Proverbs 20:24). God provides us with grace (2 Corinthians 9:8). The Psalmist informs us that God provides us with help when we are hurting (Psalm 34:17-18). Every time God provides for us, we are saved, we are healed, and we are given a new life. Now, I tell you that what the LORD provides, the LORD can take away.

Jonah 4:6-8 assert, “The Lord God appointed a bush and made it come up over Jonah, to give shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort, so Jonah was very happy about the bush. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the bush, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God prepared a sultry east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint and asked that he might die. He said, ‘It is better for me to die than to live.’” What the LORD provides, the LORD can take away.

When thinking about the phrase, “What the LORD provides, the LORD can take away,” I am reminded two things: the story of Job and a moment in my academic career when my freedom was quickly taken away. First,  after Job—a man described as blameless and upright, who loved God, shunned evil and was the greatest among all the people of the East ( Job1:1-2)—lost his 10 children, thousands of livestock, and countless servants in a single day. These events came sometime after God and Satan were said to have argued over Job’s character. God described Job as God-fearing, but the devil said Job was only so fearful and righteous because all had gone well for him. God then granted the devil power over all Job had, though He said the devil could not hurt the man himself (Job 1:12).

When the cursed day arrived and Job did indeed lose everything, he was devastated. He tore his robe, shaved his head, and worshipped God, crying, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” (Job 1:21). Essentially, Job is acknowledging that despite what happened, God is sovereign. He rules overall and has all under control, and this appears to bring Job comfort. He does not blame God for any of this. In situations that are similar to Job, when we lose something or someone who the LORD has provided us we tend to act more like Jonah than Job: we get angry with God, we ask God “Why,” we plea with God to have things go back to normal. We are not pleased with God when things are taken from us. The rage of sin corrupts our hearts. What the LORD provides, the LORD can take away. We must learn that the LORD knows what we need and don’t need in life. We must learn to trust in Him.

Before my career as a full-time second grader commenced, I was being taught to fly by my eldest brother. During a volleyball game on a hot and humid afternoon, I found myself being launched into the air like a rocket shooting into the atmosphere. The flying part was no problem, but I was never taught how to land. I began my second grade year with a cast on my right wrist. Everything was fine, I just couldn’t participate in gym class or do anything fun during recess. I was able to walk around and do a few things…until one day, I was placed against the wall because I was accused of using my casted wrist as a club to knock the ball away. (That accusation may be accurate!)  I quickly learned that the small amount of freedom that I had at recess was no more as I stood against the wall moving with the shade. What the Lord provides, the Lord can take away.

Jonah was provided a bush that produced shade, but a worm devoured that bush. With no shade, Jonah was being bombarded by the scorching east wind and desert sun. Jonah was so angry that he didn’t realize the lesson that God was teaching him: “If you trust in me, my provisions will save your life. But if you don’t trust in me, I will take away what I provide for you.” As I stated earlier, the LORD has taken things or people away from us. What the LORD provides, the LORD can take away because the LORD is in control. Students and Teachers, I encourage you to hang on to this phrase. Allow this phrase to remind you to not take things for granted, to live in the moment, to accept the challenges before you, to find ways to cherish the tough assignments and those tough students, and to know that the LORD is listening to the needs of your heart. The LORD will provide what you need: He might not provide what you want. Be thankful for what God provides you and don’t let your anger motivate God to take something away.

Third, by living out the Golden Rule we learn to not always think about ourselves. Jonah 4:9-11 state, “But God said to Jonah, ‘Is it right for you to be angry about the bush?’ And he said, ‘Yes, angry enough to die.’ Then the Lord said, ‘You are concerned about the bush, for which you did not labor and which you did not grow; it came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left and also many animals?’”

The Book of Jonah ends with a question, a question that we, the readers, are invited to answer. Much like the original ending of the Gospel of Mark—the women appearing at the tomb of Jesus and then leaving in fear and not telling anyone—the Book of Jonah invites us to continue the story, to go out into the world proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ—to be the hands and feet of Jesus. To quote the poetic words of Teresa of Avila, “Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.” To be the hands and feet of Christ, we must treat others the way we, through Jesus Christ, want to be treated, to realize that people can be forgiven of their wicked ways.

I first heard the “Golden Rule” in Kindergarten. As a class we would recite it after we said “The Pledge of Allegiance.” It wasn’t until later on in my academic career that I began to understand what the “Golden Rule” actually meant and how it has its roots in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke: “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31). The “Golden Rule” is more than doing good to others so that they will treat you with goodness, but it’s about caring for others, about showing kindness towards others, about being gentle and gracious with others, about finding ways to forgive others, to offer others compassion and mercy, to be there for others, and to not give up on others who appear broken. Paul writes in Ephesians 4:20, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

In a way, when we say “do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” we are reciting language of the vows of marriage, “to have and to hold, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, and in sickness and in health…” We are called, by Christ, to treat others with the same respect and love that God has given us. If God can show compassion to a wicked and powerfully dominating Assyrian city, then certainly we can accept God’s ways and not be so concerned about ourselves and treat others with kindness and compassion.

Students and Teachers, I encourage you to live out the “Golden Rule” in your life. Don’t just recite it and put up a poster of it; but really live it, really practice it. Allow the “Golden Rule” to become your God-given purpose in life. Students, your classmates and friends will make you angry, your teachers will give an impossible assignment on your busiest day, and your parents may frustrate you, but don’t give in to anger. Remember to show kindness and goodness because that is what you want to receive. Teachers, you will get frustrated by the amount of work you have, you will feel overwhelmed, you will encounter students who will not listen to you or turn in their assignments or who think they are better than you, and you may even have disagreements with the administration, but don’t give in to anger. Channel goodness in your heart, love in your words, and compassion in your actions.

If Jonah would have known the “Golden Rule,” then he would have been able to accept why God was showing compassion to the Ninevites because he wouldn’t have been so concerned with himself; rather he would have been more concerned with those around him. Walter Brueggemann, when talking about selfishness, shares that Jonah’s actions resemble an “us agenda”: an us agenda is the “inability to transfer attention beyond our needs and appetites.” The “Golden Rule” encourages us to see beyond ourselves and beyond our own appetites, beyond our own wants. The “Golden Rule” encourages us to see those around us, to see those who God puts before us. So, again Students and Teachers, I challenge you to live out the “Golden Rule” in all that you do, in all that you say, and in all that you teach because showing goodness toward someone just might heal their brokenness.

Conclusion:

Returning to that eight word message, “You have a God-given purpose, now go,” students and teachers and everyone else, your purpose is not to get angry with God, not to disagree with what God is telling you, and certainly not to question God’s decisions for God’s people whether sinful or filled with goodness. Rather your purpose is to listen to God, receive His message, and be the hands and feet of Christ. In moments of brokenness and defeat, don’t get angry with God but trust in God and allow Him to grant you forgiveness and mercy. When the LORD provides you with something in your life, don’t take it for granted: show the LORD that what He has given you truly matters in your life and that you are thankful for it and blessed by it. Remember, what the LORD provides, the LORD can take away. And lastly, do your best to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Allow the “Golden Rule” to help you notice the needs of those around you: replace your anger with joy, replace your worry with trust, and replace your anxiety with peace so that others may feel noticed and heard.

As you embark on a new school year, how will you allow your God-given purpose to help you share Christ’s love with your friends, classmates, and students? Don’t be a Jonah, but be who God is calling you to be for those who God places before you. You have a God-given purpose, now let the purpose guide you to trusting in the works of God in your life

Let it be so…

 

Closing Prayer:

Let Us Pray…Dear Almighty God, you see us when we are broken, you hear us when we are angry, and you know when we put ourselves before others, so Lord helps us to put our faith and trust in you. Through your prophet Jonah we are reminded that we are given a purpose to not question your actions but to trust you, to give our brokenness to you so that we can be healers for others, to not take for granted what you provides us but to cherish what you give us, and to always find ways to treat others the way we want to be treated. O Lord, helps us to be your hands and feet today and every day.  All honor and glory is yours, now and forever, Amen.

 

Benediction:

To all the students and teachers, may the Lord bless you with strength, wisdom, moments of peace, and days with more happiness than anger as you allow the Lord to walk with you during this new school year. And to everyone else, may the Lord bless you with compassion and mercy all the days of your life. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, go out into the world knowing that God has given you a purpose to show compassion and mercy to all people. And all of God’s people said, Amen. Amen. Amen.