Here we have a wonderful window into the heart of God. He relented and had compassion on the Ninevites… and that made Jonah angry! Jonah said, “I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful…” (Jon. 4:2). But Jonah was not a gracious and merciful prophet.

God was concerned about the city. He said, “There are 120,000 people in Nineveh, and these people matter to Me!” But Jonah was concerned about the vine. The Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labour, nor did youmake it grow” (4:10). The contrast is striking. Jonah was concerned about the vine. God was concerned about the city.

We are all concerned about the vine—our jobs, homes, investments, and health. We are concerned about the things that bring us comfort and joy. But do we share God’s concern for our cities? It is easy to be deeply concernedabout the vine and yet unmoved by the plight of millions who face eternity without Christ.

Ask God to give you are heart for the cities andfor those who do not yet know Jesus Christ.

Think about the vine, the worm, and the wind in the life of our Lord Jesus.

Jesus chose twelve disciples and called them to be with Him (Mk. 3:14). He had the comfort, joy, and blessing of their companionship. He sent them out and their ministry was blessed with such success that he said, “I saw Satan fall like lightning” (Lk. 10:18).

Then the worm came. The disciples, who had brought Him comfort, joy, and blessing, all forsook Him and fled. Judas betrayed Him with a kiss, Peter denied Him with a curse, and Jesus was plunged into sorrow and loss.

And then the east wind blew. Jesus was scourged, mocked, and crowned with thorns. He was nailed to the cross, and He was plunged into total darkness. And, in His affliction, pain, and distress, He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mat. 27:46).

Why was Jesus forsaken? Because Jesus bore your sins in His body on the tree. The Son of God loved you and gave Himself for you. He endured the worm and the wind so that you could be brought into an eternity under God’s vine.

Can you see God’s love for you in Jesus?

It’s easy to see why God provided the vine for Jonah. God is good. All good gifts come from Him. But why did God send the worm and the wind? What possible good could come from that?

It’s helpful to understand two important Bible words: Justification is how God forgives us through Jesus. Sanctification is how God makes us like Jesus. The first is an event, the second is a process.

God provides for our sanctification through gifts that bring joy, trials that bring sorrow, and experiences that bring pain. God used the worm and the wind to save Jonah from a vine-centred life—from loving God’s gifts more than the God who gives them.

Here are two signs that you may be living a vine-centred life:

1. You are angry with God
“I do well to be angry, angry enough to die” (4:9). Jonah was first angry about Nineveh (4:4). And now, the anger is back. The vine masked Jonah’s problem. Family, friends, money, and success can do that. But, if your greatest joy is in the vine, you will live a vine-centred life. And when the vine is gone, you will be angry toward God.

2. You are losing your reason to live
“It is better for me to die” (4:8). Jonah found such comfort and joy in the vine that when it was gone he no longer felt he had a reason to live. The extraordinary thing is that Jonah is saying this to God who is the reason to live! If your greatest joy lies in God’s gifts rather than in God Himself, then when the gift you cherish most withers, you will lose your reason to live. The reason to live is not the gifts but the Giver.

Do you see any signs that you may have slipped into living a vine-centred life?