Let's serve with love

Wednesday February 9, 2022

Let's serve with love

If I have the gift of prophecy, the understanding of all mysteries and all knowledge, if I even have all the faith to move mountains, but I have not love, I am not nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:2

Servant of God, authentic prophet, Jonah is very unhappy with the mission that God entrusts to him. Self-centered, he has no compassion or love for others.

His mission, in fact, consists in warning, on behalf of the Eternal, the inhabitants of Nineveh of the imminent destruction which awaits their city. If God announces the judgment, it is, of course, so that those who are thus informed repent.

But Jonah flees his mission. Probably he does not want to take risks for a pagan people towards whom he has no compassion. He may also fear that the Lord will not follow through on his threat, and fears for his reputation (Jonah 4:2). In the boat that takes him away from Nineveh, he sleeps at the bottom of the hold without worrying about the storm which endangers the lives of the sailors. His conscience does not worry him for these idolaters, when he knows he is the cause of what is happening.

Later, coerced and coerced, he cries out to the Ninevites that in forty days their city will be overthrown, then waits for the destruction of the city to confirm his message. No question for him to intercede as Abraham did for Sodom, also threatened with destruction. God, in his mercy, takes account of the repentance of the king and his subjects and stops the announced judgment. Instead of rejoicing, Jonah is furious ; so the Lord rebukes him for his selfishness and lack of mercy and grace.

Each of us has received a service from God. Let us appreciate the grace he bestows on us and perform it with joy, as to the Lord (Colossians 3:23).

We may encounter challenges from those we are called to serve. This was the case of the apostle Paul who spent himself without counting on the Corinthians who questioned his ministry. Yet he had enough love to assure them that he would continue his service to them, even if they loved him less (2 Corinthians 12:15). So, let's follow his example : let's serve out of love, putting aside all concern for personal prestige.

Source (Pleasing the Lord)