Daily Thoughts

Continuing on with the story of Jonah in the Old Testament, we read that when the people repented and were spared the destruction that they'd been warned about, Jonah became angry. What? You'd think he'd be delighted that the people had hearkened unto him and repented of their sins. But instead he was upset that the Lord had shown so much mercy to the city of Nineveh to be willing for forgive them of their sins and spare them. The Lord rebuked Jonah by sending a gourd to provide a shadow over his head and deliver him from his grief. But the next morning a worm came and smote the gourd that it withered. Jonah then suffered the heat of the sun as it beat upon his head and made him feel faint. He became angry for the loss of the gourd. The Lord then pointed out to him how ridiculous it was to be angry over a gourd that he hadn't labored for or made to grow in yet not understand why the Lord was willing to spare Nineveh which contained 120,000 people. Jonah 4: 1-11 "But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. 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. Therefore now, O Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live. Then said the Lord, Doest thou well to be angry? 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. 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. 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. 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.0 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: And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?"


In the D&C it tells us that church positions that are held by those who are not faithful will be given to others. The Lord's work will continue to go forward!  D&C 114: 2 "For verily thus saith the Lord, that inasmuch as there are those among you who deny my name, others shall be planted in their stead and receive their bishopric. Amen."

Some verses with a thought booklet tell us that we should be content with what we have. The love of money is the root of all evil. We don't bring anything into this world and we won't take anything out with us. Instead of persuing wealth, we should seek for righteousness, love, faith, and patience. Striving to please the Lord will bring us contentment in life, not having lots of money. When someone asked John D. Rockefeller how much money it takes to make a man happy, his reply was "Just one more dollar." Often this is the case--no matter how much money a person has, they always want more and are never satisfied. Let's instead seek for the riches of heaven which are of eternal value. 1 Tim. 6: 6-11 "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness."




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