How to Overcome the Temptation to Retaliate
(Rom 12:19-21)
Illustration:A man who had been having problems with an unreasonable neighbor finally had to defend himself legally against unwarranted and dishonest actions. He commented, "I have tried to follow Romans 12:18, but in a case like this I thank the Lord for the ’escape clause’ He put in this text. It does not say that we have to live peaceably with all men under every circumstance--for even the Lord recognizes that with some people this is not possible."
Unfortunately, too many people do not do all that is possible to live peaceably. This reminds me of a story about a boy who asked his dad, "How do wars begin?" The father replied, "Well, World War I began because Germany invaded Belgium." At this point his wife interrupted, "Tell the boy the truth. It began because somebody was murdered." The husband quickly retorted, "Are you answering the question or am I?" The wife stormed out of the room and slammed the door as hard as she could. When the room stopped vibrating, an uneasy silence followed. The son then said, "Daddy, you don’t need to tell me how wars begin. Now I know!"
Are you quick to retaliate, or have you cultivated a peaceable spirit? Jesus prayed for His enemies. Do you? Today, do all you possibly can to live peaceably. --Henry G. Bosch (Our Daily Bread
Many people struggle to overcome the temptation to take vengeance into their own hands. However, Paul once wrote, "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:19-21)
It takes the grace of God to apply this truth in all areas of our life. When we have been cheated, abused, or falsely accused it is our natural tendency to try to return evil for evil. Consider Jesus Christ’s response to mistreatment. "When they hurled insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly." (I Pet. 2:23) Let us understand the proper ways to identify with Christ when we are unjustly treated.
Quote: (Our Daily Bread)
When anger lingers in our heart,
It poisons all we think and do;
But faith seeks ways to show God’s love
And keeps our spirit strong and true.
Getting even takes you down to the level of your offender.
1. Do not be surprised that you are called to suffer indignities, abuses, or mistreatments for Jesus’ sake. All of life is not fair. "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But, rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory rests upon you." (I Pet. 4:12-14) The more we identify with Christ and His ministries the more we will share in His empowerment, purposes, and processes.
2. Recognize that the Lord may allow certain abuses for your greater humility, purity and godliness. Sometimes the only way that God is able to get through our thick skulls is to show us how we need His intercessory help. Job endured great abuse from his friends, family and even his beloved wife who told him, "Just curse God and die." All of these mistreatments allowed Job to know that God’s sovereign will is often beyond human understanding. Yet, Job was able to resign himself to the truth, "Lord, I know you can do all things and no purpose of yours can be thwarted." (Job 42:1,2)
3. Remember to be like the patient farmer who endures great uncertainties with the weather until he finally harvests the crops. "See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop…You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door. (James 5:7-9)It is often said that farmers have to endure many seasonal changes, severe weather or draught before they are able to see miraculously how God brings in them to harvest time. We are all spiritual farmers who are dependent on the Lord in all areas for a fruitful harvest. Everything we have comes from God. The world, the people in it, and all of the affairs of life are in the hands of God. Remember the great song, "He’s got the whole world, in His hands!"
4. Persevere through times of uncertainty but be assured that your difficult experience will make you either better or bitter. Remind yourself we receive great blessings for persevering. "You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy." (James 5:11,12)
5. Consider how the prophets of God worked through misunderstandings for the greater glory of God. Jeremiah was called the weeping prophet. Jesus said, "Blessed are those who mourn (for the lack of righteousness) for they shall be comforted." (Matt. 5:4) We should expect to receive no better treatment than the great prophets who persisted amidst terrible abuses with their own people.
6. If someone sins against you lovingly go and discuss the problem without being indignant. Jesus said, "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses." (Matt. 18:15,16) It is better to privately deal with problems while they are small rather than wait until they get blown out of proportion.
7. Avoid the temptation to take your grievance before the ungodly in a legal setting. Paul writes, "If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?" (I Cor. 6:1,2) For the sake of our Christian testimony it is better not to air our dirty laundry in public view.
8. Consult Godly counselors who may be able to intercede on your behalf. When you are at your wits end ask Godly leaders to mediate a conflict in a way that brings reconciliation, restoration and renewal to the greater and local body of Christ. Without the intervention of Godly elders many abusive situations are apt to continue unabated.
Praise God for His Enabling Power:
1. Envisioning His Plans, Employer, Exuberance, Enthusiasm, Enricher
2. Empowering You With His Energy
3. Equipping You With His Abilities
4. Enabling You to Do His Will
5. Encouraging You When Discouraged
6. Enlightening You With the Knowledge of His will, Eyes of your heart with hope, riches, power
7. Exalter from tragedy to triumphs
8. Expiator of sin, eraser of guilt, extricates from evil, sorrow and sin
9. Elevating You Above the Problems of the World, the Flesh and the Devil
10. Exchanging All Evil For Good, sadness with joy, defeat with victory
11. Expresser of your will, word & way
12. Emphasizing What is True, Noble, Right, Pure, Lovely, Excellent, Admirable and Praise-worthy
13. Escaping Temptations
14. Experiencing His Deliverance
15. Everything Is Gained Through Precious Promises, Power & Person
16. Energizing You to Overcome Fatigue
17. Enough Grace to be Sufficient for Every Situation, Trial and Opportunity
18. Exceeding Abundant Prayer Answers
19. Empowering You to Accomplish All that Is Required; everything to me
20. Ever Present Help and Stay in the times of trouble; every spiritual blessing
21. Everlasting Love that People Need
22. Everlasting Life Through Christ
23. Establishing of the New Church
24. Emotional support, security sustaining
25. Equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry; excitement giver
26. Edifying for the building of the body
27. Evangelizing of the lost, unreached and those yet to understand
28. Employment as the labors are few
29. Entertainment so we can have life and have it abundantly; emotes of love
30. Experiences that make one discerning
31. Evaluator of all that is done so we do not have to judge ourselves or let others judge us by their standards
32. Every tribe, nation, tongue and people group is to be reached with the gospel
33. Engineer the removing of mountains
34. Excellence according to Christ Jesus, His Word and His Holy Spirit
35. Educating of the church and leaders
36. Elder giver and trainer
37. Escape giver from temptation & trials
38. Exceeding abundant answers to prayer beyond what we can ask or think
39. Enjoyment in your presence and pathways will be made known
40. Elevating us so we are not overcome by evil but overcome with good
41. Exchanging what is harmful with what is compassionate, caring and complete
42. Emotional support and consolation
43. Envy replaces with contentment
44. Effort exhorter when we need it
45. Educator for greater maturity & depth
46. Error avoider; Endurance Giver
47. Everyday supplier of our needs and the ability to cope with every challenge
48. Essentials of truth, love, faith, hope, grace, priorities, purpose and power
49. Evil defeater as He fights the battles
50. Eternal victory is promised
51. Engager of the lost, lonely and needy
52. Enough deliverance is assured
53. Efficacy giver, equanimity, energizer
54. Exposes of what is wrong or incomplete, inadequate, incorrect
55. Economizer of resources
56. Effects change in His time & way
57. Exhibits His power, purpose and persuasive capacities of the Spirit
58. Examples of Godliness in Christ & Saints
59. Evaluates Effectiveness by God’s will
60. Expressing Your words, will & way
61. Exhilaration Giver
62. Expunger of Sin, Evil, Wicked
63. Excitement Giver
64. Enfolder
65. Enveloper
66. Enforcer
67. Embracer
68. Emerges
69. (Infuser of love, joy, peace…)
70. Ephesians Giver
71. Ezekiel Giver
72. Expectations Setter, Fulfiller
73. Elevator above problems
74. Exposition Master
75. Exegesis Engineer
76. Elation Giver
77. Expert in All things
78. Explorer of hearts & minds
79. Enricher of longing soul
80. Effectiveness Giver
81. Exporter of missionaries
82. Expander of the kingdom
83. Essence of holiness, truth, love
84. Exudes of love, joy, peace…
85. Exalted One above all
86. Enthroned on High
87. Eyes Run Through the earth
88. Eye-salve and healer
89. Eye Giver and Perspective
90. Enable to solve problems – cope
91. Evener of all (Romans 14)
92. Ever-advancing (Matt 11:12)
93. Exemplary in everything
94. Environmental owner-controller
95. Expectation Adjuster
96. Endower of rights and taker
97. Expresser of love, truth wisdom
98. Excess eliminator
99. Elohim – Creator, sustainer God
100. Ethnic Creator – Reacher
101. Explicit Communicator
102. Establisher of truth – grace
103. Error avoider – preventor
104. Easer of our pain, frustration
105. Evaluation Expert & Judge
106. Elucidation Enabler
107. Erudition Giver
108. Explanation Enabler Giver
109. Ebullient Enabler
110. Exuberance for righteousness
111. Employer Giver and Taker
112. Expert in everything
113. Elaboration Enabler
114. Erector of your kingdom – righteousness, church, & fruits
115. Embracer of the lonely
116. Embodiment of truth- love, grace
117. Empathizer with the hurting
118. Enfolder in to your flock
119. Enthusiasm Giver
120. Eliminator mountains (Mt 17:20)
121. Enter Not In to Temptations but deliver us from evil
122. Extremist suppressor-protector
123. Equanimity giver
124. Everything for life-godliness
125. Effervescence Giver
126. Endearing One
127. Emergency Aid Giver
128. Enemy Defeater-Identifier
129. Essential Emphasizer
130. Elector before time
131. Ennobler
