Indifferent Attitude Toward God’s Extended Kindness
Text: Jonah 4:1-11 IBCSWS February 8, 2026
Preacher: Pastor Jose B. Cabajar
Our God is so gracious and merciful, and His kindness toward fallen human race is beyond man’s comprehension. Through the ages, God’s extended kindness toward the Gentile nations was incredibly notable and undeniable. God wants all men to be saved and He is not willing that anyone should perish. The Bible says in II Peter 3:9, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (KJV)
Jonah acknowledged God’s great kindness, but he himself had indifferent attitude toward God’s plan to save the people of Nineveh. In Jonah 4:2, it is written, And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil. (KJV) It was a heart-breaking moment for Jonah when he saw how God saved the repentant Ninevites from destruction.
(I) Let God Extend His Kindness To The Lost Jonah 1:1-3
Christians must have Christ-like compassion toward the lost and dying world. Let God extend His saving grace to the lost. Sensitivity toward the spiritual needs of the hopeless people is needful and a must-have of every believer.
In Jonah 1:1-3, it is written, Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. 3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. (KJV)
Don’t ignore the calling of God, but grab your opportunity to serve Him by reaching the lost with the Gospel so they may find their way to the saving knowledge of Christ. In Romans 10:15, it is written, And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (KJV)
-Proclaim God’s Word to people living in spiritual darkness Jonah 3:1-5
Pray for the salvation of the lost and be willing to reach them with the Good News so they may be saved through faith in Christ.
The Bible says in Jonah 3:1-5, And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying, 2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. 3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey. 4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. 5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. (KJV) What a delightful sight to see people repenting from their sins and putting their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Avoid indifferent attitude toward God’s plan of salvation Jonah 4:1-4
Jonah was displeased and angry when he saw the Ninevites’ salvation through believing God’s Word. In Jonah 4:1, it is written, But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. (KJV) Take note also of what Jonah said in verses 3-4, Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live. 4 Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry? (KJV) What a manifestation of one’s indifferent attitude toward God’s mercy and grace being enjoyed by repentant people.
One way of revealing one’s indifferent attitude toward God’s plan of salvation is by not taking a part in fulfilling the “Great Commission”. Christians are mandated to spread the Good News to every living person and such role must not be taken lightly. In Matthew 28:19-20, it is written, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (KJV)
As long as we have our being, it should be our prayer and conviction to support our world mission program and be a blessing to lost and hopeless people.
Don’t be like Jonah who had pity on the gourd, but had indifferent attitude toward God’s kindness to the Ninevites. The Bible says in Jonah 4:10, Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night: (KJV) We must keep in mind that God’s salvation so rich and free is for everyone, not for the Jews only.
Spiritual insights to live by:
Christians are the lights in this sin-darkened world and being aware of such responsibility will trigger our hearts to share the Gospel without reservation. The Gospel should not be hid, but be proclaimed freely at any cost. In II Corinthians 4:3-4, But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (KJV)
Give your life and substance to Lord and serve Him the rest of your life. God will take care of you as He did to Jonah. The Bible says in Jonah 4:6, And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd. (KJV) Surely, God knows your struggles in life. Be sure not to question His ways because His ways in dealing with people are perfect. Don’t have a “Pity party” like Jonah when you realize that your way and mindset are not in line with ways of the True and living God.
In Jonah 4:5, 7-9, it is written, So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city. 7 But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered. 8 And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live. 9 And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death. (KJV) Don’t be upset if God wants your enemies to be saved, but rather, rejoice and submit to His blessed will. Let God’s great kindness be extended to others for His honor and glory.
