Unwanted Cargo

This blog is written by Mark Morris.

The story of Jonah and how he survived three days in the belly of the great fish is a very familiar Bible story.

We often teach of God’s redeeming power, and how he will restore us when fear grips our hearts and we fail to do God’s will.

Recently, I began to think of a character in this story that we often overlook. The character, I am thinking is the man who owns the boat that Jonah has boarded.

This man had done nothing wrong. He allowed Jonah to get on the boat. He was trying to be accommodating and no doubt he felt sorry for Jonah.

There was no way he could imagine the loss of revenue and the terror he and his men would face simply because they allowed this man on their ship.

The owner of the ship had no doubt made the trip many times. Surely he was successful for we see he had an accumulated enough capital to own his own ship and finance the crew, as well as insure those who trusted him to transport their cargo.

We in the sage age are much like the man who owned the ship.

We have traveled many miles and made many successful trips around the sun. We have wisdom that only comes from experience.

Could it be a danger at our age to allow wrong cargo on our ship?

We are trying to finish strong. Our goal is to hear Jesus say well done good and faithful servant. Therefore, caution must be used when allowing our lives to become influenced by unknown or undesirable baggage.

What a shame it would be to allow drama to cause our ship to face storms. The storms of drama could cost us our reputation or cost us our good report from within and from without.

How about the dangers of a hardened heart? A hard heart comes most often from unforgiveness .

At our age, we can’t afford the cargo of unforgiveness. We must learn the importance of forgiving often and forgiving quickly.

A ship loaded with unwanted guilt will face storms we will have trouble navigating.

I am thrilled that Jonah survived and was able to fulfill the will of the Lord in his life. But what about the man who owned the ship? Take a look again at the first chapter of Jonah and read verses four through six. Jonah was saved, but the ships owner lost everything.

You cannot afford to allow this unwanted cargo on your ship.

So please take caution and be careful of what you allow to board your ship.