Text: Jonah 1:1-3
“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” — Matthew 16:25
In his book A Simple and Profound Call to Live Like Jesus, Floyd McClung wrote about “cozy Christians” and their “safe” theology using the acrostic:
S—Self-protection
A—Avoidance of danger
F—Financial security
E—Escape from dangerous circumstances
“Does God love us, and is He concerned about our safety and well-being? Absolutely,” says McClung. “But that does not mean our safety or comfort is God’s greatest concern. God’s greatest concern is His glory—His mercy being made known to people in need.”
Jonah is a guy in ancient biblical times who felt the impulse to play it safe.
We see that the word of the LORD came to Jonah and told him two specific things: where to go and what to say. The commissioning was very specific—go to the great city of Nineveh and cry out against it, “for their evil has come up before” the LORD. Their wickedness wasn’t hidden in secret somewhere. God knew, and God saw their habitual evil. Thus, the LORD called Jonah as a prophet to this pagan, gentile city, to openly rebuke them for their sin and to call them to real godly repentance.
God had a special purpose for Jonah, but Jonah wasn’t interested. The mission would be difficult and dangerous, as Nahum 3:1-4 underscores how it was a “city of bloodshed.” He could be mocked, attacked, and possibly killed for his obedience. Was it worth it? This wasn’t going to make the highlight reel on his travel vlog!
Ancient historians tell us that Nineveh was the largest city in the world at that time, so on top of all its wickedness, it would’ve been the epicenter of a dominating empire as well. I imagine it would’ve been far from Jonah’s comfort zone to travel there. For whatever reasons, Tarshish looked quite appealing, far more comfy, and… delightfully benign. The Tarshish Bed and Breakfast was more enticing than risking everything so that pagan people might come to know God’s mercy. So Jonah went down to Joppa and purchased a one-way ticket on a ship to Tarshish—“away from the presence of the LORD.”
Jonah chose the danger of “safe” over the vulnerability of being in God’s will. His egocentric impulses moved him toward self-preservation mode instead of humble surrender to a mission of mercy. But the façade of being in control only led him further from God’s agenda. As Charles Spurgeon noted, “All the while the ship sailed smoothly over the sea, Jonah forgot his God. You could not have distinguished him from the veriest heathen on board. He was just as bad as they were.”
When was the last time you felt the impulse to play it safe? Anytime we choose the danger of safe over the vulnerability of being in the center of God’s will, we are nomadic in our faith. The shelter of isolation over missional community with other believers might make us feel less vulnerable in relationships, but it’s a toxic individualism. It might be self-insulating to withhold forgiveness toward someone else, but it’s a dangerous kind of safe (and one that can lead to bitterness, spiritual decay, and debilitating disease). We might save ourselves from awkward moments by not speaking gospel truth to our neighbors, but what does our “safe” cost Jesus, eternity, the Kingdom, the lost, and ourselves?
Consider: Twice in this verse we see that Jonah “went down,” which can also be a euphemism for death (e.g., Genesis 37:35). A few verses later Jonah goes “down” into the inner part of the ship and fell asleep in the midst of a catastrophic crisis, not because he had great peace, but because his spirit had become so calloused and indifferent. The more Jonah “went down,” the more dangerous his nomadic faith was to himself and others (more on that next week!).
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, forgive us for our impulse toward self-preservation. We need to be about your glory more than we are about our personal need for comfort or safety. Make us more vulnerable, LORD. Holy Spirit, teach us to choose obedience over impulse for the benefit of others, the Kingdom, and ourselves. In Jesus’ blessed name, Amen.
Questions for Reflection and/or Group Discussion
- Why is it easier to flee on impulse rather than take necessary risks?
- When have you not wanted to obey God? Has there been a time in your life when you had to take a risk over playing it safe, especially as it pertains to the glory of God?
- Have you ever seen God’s glory manifested through ways you have served Him that may have been unattractive or unpleasant at first glance?
- To what mission has God called you? What people groups or network of relationships has He called you to serve in making disciples and fleshing out His mercy toward others?
- In what ways might you need to repent of living in self-preservation mode, and the dangers of “safe” theology?
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