Saying Yes to God  

Pastor Erwin Lutzer

     It's hardest for those with exaggerated self-importance, a need for admiration, unwilling to empathize with others' feelings. 

     Do you know someone like that? 

     Unless we are broken, we will never be touched with what touches God's heart. Those who are precious to God have compassion and a willingness to sacrifice. 

     Unless we are broken, we feel comfortable in our sin and rebellion, justified, content with our rights. 

The prophet Jonah, 760 B.C., is our narcissist.

     He hopped a boat to avoid witnessing to the hated city of Ninevites, who didn't have Israel's faith and knowledge. After God freed him from the great fish, Jonah reluctantly obeyed. 

     When the people of Nineveh miraculously turned from their evil ways, God had compassion. But Jonah became angry. He prayed to the Lord, saying he knew this would happen. "That's why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God... Now, O Lord, take away my life..." 

     God reasoned with him, but Jonah remained angry and wanted to die (Jonah chapter 4). 

     The Lord has a mirror for each of us. He can show us our needs and be gracious, as he was with the Ninevites ... for a time. 

     We don't want to be narcissists.  

Jonah was probably the author.

If so, he had repented, giving God the glory,

while allowing his former self to be disgraced.