See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. 1 Thessalonians 5:15 Growing up in the eighties exposed me to all sorts of action movies. Despite the fact that they were written by different people, many of them had the same basic plot. The lead actor was a good man with a family or a girlfriend. He would get in the way of a guy who wants to take out his anger on one or more of his loved ones by kidnapping them or killing them. The protagonist decides to take matters into his own hands. He pursues his enemies until he kills them or they “accidentally” die during the ensuing battle royale at the end. It was a plot that sold very well back then and it still sells tickets up to now. Why? Because revenge presents the viewers with a strong emotional attachment to the lead actor. “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” is actually a rule that was found in Jewish law. It was a necessary form of justice. It executes justice by giving the offender the same punishment as he inflicted on another person. But some people abused this by taking matters into their own hands instead of letting the justice system enact the judgment. This prompted Jesus to say, “You have heard that it was said, Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matthew 5:38-39). The Apostle Paul also encouraged the believers in Thessalonica by making sure that the church would not practice revenge as well. He wanted them to respond to evil by doing good as Jesus had commanded them. Paying back evil for evil is our natural human tendency especially because it feels good to get even. To take revenge on our enemies, however, is to give our anger the freedom to decide what’s right from what’s wrong. And whenever the emotions take precedence over the intellect, the results are usually disastrous and oftentimes filled with longstanding regret. Jesus knew this and Paul did, too. The only way to pay back someone who wronged you is to do good in return. While it appears that we have lost the battle by doing so, we have actually won over our inclination to do evil ourselves. Jesus says “But I say, love your enemies! [Bless those who curse you. Do good to those who hate you.] Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For He gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and the unjust alike” (Matthew 5:44-45). Paying back evil with good shows that we are God’s children and it’s what distinguishes us from evil men. Your part isn’t to take revenge. You’re part is to do good no matter what. What kind of good deeds can you do to someone who has wronged you? You can start by responding with kindness regardless of the words spoken against you. Being respectful despite the disrespect you’re receiving shows that you value this person as God values him or her. Taking matters into your own hands was never God’s plan. He wants you to take matters into His hands and let you show others whose child you are.
Posted on: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 11:15:10 +0000
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