Christian Devotional – May 13, 2026

The Reluctant Follower, Day 19

Taking ownership. Read Jonah 4:10.

One of the key lessons I strive to teach my kids is about the idea of taking ownership and maintaining accountability for something that they are responsible for. If they have something that they have helped to create or put together, then they have ownership over that and there’s a level of responsibility that they should feel toward it. There’s also a level of accountability that they should have with regard to that whatever that is. Where Jonah got mixed up is that he was taking ownership for something that he didn’t do and didn’t have any part of. He felt a sense of responsibility and attachment to a plant that he didn’t create, didn’t help grow, and wasn’t part of other than to reap the benefits of what that plant offered.

God is reminding him that it’s okay to feel sad about the plant, but Jonah is more sad about himself and not being able to reap the benefits of what that what that plant provided. Jonah’s attitude is selfishly motivated. Today, we need to challenge ourselves to ensure whether or not we are taking ownership or taking credit for something that we have really no part of. Do we take credit for things that are really just something that we’ve simply enjoyed the benefits of? Are we truly giving credit where credit is due?

God made that plant. God made it grow. God determined a time when it should die. Jonah had nothing to do with any of that and Jonah couldn’t control it. Are we evaluating what we take ownership of and ensuring that we are giving credit where credit is due and not trying to take credit for something that we have no part in?