BACKGROUND:
When people do evil against us, we are never to pay back evil for evil, as much as we might like to. Instead, we are to do things in such a way that everyone can see we are honorable. Paul’s standard for behavior was not common consensus, but godliness. The point being made here is that the behavior of believers must be such that no one can rightfully make a claim of wrongdoing. To commit the same evil that was committed against us makes us indistinguishable from the original offenders.
Paul counsels believers to have as peaceful relations as possible with their unbelieving neighbors and associates. Quoting from Deuteronomy 32:35, Paul reminds us that though we may want to avenge ourselves, we must leave that to God. Refusing to take revenge avoids grudges and feuds. God will ensure that his just vengeance will be given.
The opposite of repaying with evil and taking revenge is caring for our enemies. Believers are not simply expected to abstain from evil; rather, they are expected to actively pursue opportunities to care for an enemy’s needs. God invites us to observe our enemies and at the very points of weakness, where a counterattack of revenge might be most effective, we should mercifully meet that need. This will make them ashamed of their actions toward us.
Do not give in to your desire to take revenge or retaliate with evil; instead, act in a positive way. Paul comes full circle back to his point of verse 9. To hate evil is to conquer it by doing good. When we hang on for dear life to those things that are good and to God, we will be overcoming evil. All of this will be accomplished to the degree that we allow God to create in us sincere love.
SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)
How do you counteract that natural inclination to strike back? The secret to wanting to get even with somebody is you put yourself in your enemy's shoes. Like the old Indian statement, "Walk a mile in their moccasins". When you see from their viewpoint then you'll be much more understanding. Whenever I see somebody attacking me or somebody else, I remember this statement: Hurt people hurt people. When you find somebody who's being obnoxious and attacking and hurting others it's because they themselves are hurting. That helps you to be a little more sympathetic. Look behind their anger and see why they're hurting. Counteract your natural inclination.
v. 17b says "Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody." Put yourself in their viewpoint and see it from their eyes. "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." Aren't you glad the first part is in there -- "as far as it depends on you"? There are some people you're not going to live at peace with. They're not going to let you live at peace with them. But as much as it depends on you, live at peace with everybody.
Look for and support that difficult person's good. See things from their perspective and as much as possible, live at peace with everyone. "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath. For it is written, `It's Mine to revenge. I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, fee him. If he's thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this you will heap burning coals on his head." Another thing you do in reacting to a difficult person: Leave all revenge to God.
Why? I think a couple of good reasons for leaving all revenge to God.
1) Revenge is the most worthless emotion. It saps your strength. What you're doing when you revenge is you're looking backwards at something that's happened rather than looking to the future. Many people cannot get on with the present and their life because they're still reacting to the past. Some boyfriend that hurt them, some parent that hurt them, some former spouse that hurt them. They are still so reacting to the past, they can't get on with the future. That's a waste of time and energy.
2) Leave room for God's wrath. God says, It's Mine to avenge. Who would you rather have getting even for you? You or God. Who has more resources in His power. [I heard about a guy who had gotten ripped off for a large amount of money. He wanted to take the guy to court and scripture says don't take a fellow Christian to court. The guy wanted to teach the other one a lesson. The fellow that was counseling said, "Do you want to teach him a lesson or do you want God to teach him a lesson?"] If we take matters into our own hands, God lets us and doesn't do anything. But if you let God defend you, you're in good hands! God says, I will take matters into My hands.
What does it mean "in doing this you will heap burning coals on his head." We like this. We think of blisters all over his head. There's a lot of speculation about what this means. Some speculators, Ray Steadman, for instance, thinks it means in New Testament times they didn't have matches. When you wanted to share a fire, you borrowed somebody's coals. You put them in a jar and take them to your place. You'd carry the jar on your head. Steadman thinks you give somebody something that is beneficial to them and it does them good. You're helping them out.
Other people, John McArthur, Chuck Swindoll, think this means the shame of guilt that people feel when you have done good for them and they have continually done bad to you. It starts to get them, eat at them, because they say "I'm being so bad to that person and all they do is return good." They start to feel the heat of shame and guilt. How do you hate somebody like that? Bottom Line: v. 16 - "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." The easiest way to get rid of enemies is to turn an enemy into a friend.
I love you guys. Put these foundational truths into practice in your life today.
No comments:
Post a Comment