Do Not Try To Get Revenge When Someone Has Wronged You. God Will Pay You Back Double For Unfair Situations. Why go into 2023 carrying the same anger that you have been carrying year after year. Let It Go! You Handle Forgiveness, Let God Handle Payback!
Do we deserve to be angry, of course, is there such a thing as justified anger? Yes! Should you be angry at the person that molested you, yes. Should you be angry at the person who was your best friend, but had an affair with your wife or husband, yes, should you be angry with the person that intentionally lied on you, destroyed your character, should you be angry that your parents got a divorce, yes and no, you don’t know what the situation was, it could have been an abusive or toxic marriage, but God! Should we be angry at the person that murdered our loved one, yes, should we be angry toward injustice, yes, should we be angry at the person that killed our family member in an accident, these are all justifiable anger, yes Jesus said forgive them, we have to shower some person with love, I often say it doesn’t dismiss what they have done to you, but let God handle them, He has already spoken this in His word. God sees everything, don’t think that they are getting away with something.
Don’t Be Messy! Don’t allow your hurt to make you act out of character. In a nutshell: Get angry if you must, but you can’t get even! To Issue Payback Is Human, But To Pardon Is Divine! This Is What The Word of God Says. Proverbs 20:22, “Do not say, “I’ll PAY YOU BACK for this wrong!” Wait for the LORD, and He will deliver you” {NIV} “Beloved, Never Avenge Yourselves, but leave the way open for [God’s] wrath; for it is written, Vengeance Is MINE, I Will Repay (requite), says the LORD” (Romans 12:19 AMP). Vengeance Belongs to God, and He Alone Has the Right to Exercise It!
Scriptures: Proverbs 20:22, “Do not say, “I’ll PAY YOU BACK for this wrong!” Wait for the LORD, and He will deliver you” {NIV} “Beloved, Never Avenge Yourselves, but leave the way open for [God’s] wrath; for it is written, Vengeance Is MINE, I Will Repay (requite), says the LORD” (Romans 12:19 AMP
Revenge might as well be called the battle cry of the modern age. Everyone wants to get even or get back or get to someone else. The world is full of inequality and always will be. There will always be good and bad, rich, and poor, famous, and unknown.
Studies have shown an association between negative emotions such as Anger and Revenge with a variety of Destructive Physical Symptoms, including headaches, backaches, allergic disorders, ulcers, nausea, high blood pressure, and heart attacks! Sadly, while vengeful people plot another’s demise, they are unaware that for themselves they often develop a painful health problem! In a nutshell, they don’t realize that Paybacks have a way of Paying You Back Too!
Some people's anger turns into rage. When I was counseling, I would often tell clients/patients who were full of anger to say the word Storage and then divide the word or break it down, separate the Sto-from the Rage and what do you get, you get storage, which means that anger is one letter short of danger. Why be a prisoner by allowing someone to have this kind of control over you that’s what it is, you have become the prisoner, no rest, no peace, and it is unhealthy.
Mahatma Gandhi gave us this insight: “An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind”. Which is why it’s vital that you Remember for every Payback there is a Surcharge YOU will have to Pay Also!
Revenge is an outward manifestation of an underlying problem: ANGER! Anger left unchecked will deepen into bitter roots of resentment or even jealousy. And when these Unbiblical attitudes are full-grown, the desire for revenge springs up! I agree with Buddha, at least in this respect: “Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; When You Are The One Who Gets Burned”! Your anger is Definitely Doing Damage, the problem is, You’ve Overlooked the Burn Marks In Your Hands to Prove to You WHO Really Received the Damage!
Revenge Opposes the Golden Rule: “Do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12). Another translation says it like this: “So then, whatever you desire that others would do to and for you, even so Do Also To And For Them…” (AMP). Therefore, if you seek Forgiveness when you are in the wrong, don’t expect to get it if Revenge is the Seed You’ve Sown in the Lives of Others!
There are several recognizable phrases in this passage: "Turn the other cheek"; "Go the second mile"; "Love your enemies." People who have never set foot inside a church are familiar with these sayings. But the question is: What do they mean and how do they apply to our lives today—almost 2000 years after they were spoken?
Though Jesus is referring to laws and customs that were specific to his culture, his words do apply to where we live today in the 21st century, because the desire for revenge is as much an issue for us today as it was for those living in the first century. When someone does you wrong, when someone takes advantage of you or bullies you, you want to get even.
First of all, Jesus said … (v. 39) "Do not resist an evil person."
Does this mean that we should become completely passive and let others walk all over us? That we should do nothing to protect our lives or the lives of our children? Or that we should never stand up for our rights? Of course not. When Jesus drove the moneychangers out of the temple, he wasn't being passive. When Paul demanded his rights as a Roman citizen after being without trial in Acts 16, he wasn't being passive. Jesus and Paul encouraged believers to confront those who sin to help them to find forgiveness,
Just Punishment vs. Revenge: The principle of an “eye for an eye” was an equitable law because it matched the punishment to the crime. It was a just law because it restricted men from their tendency to seek vengeance beyond what the offense deserved. It was a compassionate law because it protected society by restraining wrongful conduct.
The Scribes had twisted this law into meaning that when someone offended you, then you were required to take revenge upon them. They committed two errors in this. First, the restriction on revenge was turned into a mandate to retaliate. A negative directive was turned into a positive injunction. And second, they advocated the matters be taken into one’s one hands rather than referred to the civil authorities.
Resisting Evil: What Jesus teaches in verses 39-42 contrasts with this teaching of the Scribes, and it is only by keeping that in mind that we will understand His message to us.
First, depending on your translation, Jesus says, “resist not him who is evil” or “resist not evil.” The reason for the difference in translation is the ambiguity of the grammar at this point. It is unclear by the grammar alone whether Jesus is referring to an evil person (some say the devil, others say evil people) or to the principle of evil (Tolstoy’s view as mentioned earlier). We get our answer by examining the four specific examples in the text and by looking at what Jesus and the Apostles do and teach throughout the rest of Scripture.
It is not a reference to the devil, because James 4:7-9 and 1 Peter 5:9 specifically tell us to “resist the devil.” Neither is it the general principle of evil because we find Jesus and the Apostles resisted evil with every means and resource. When the Temple was profaned by the merchants and money changers, Jesus drove the evildoers out with a whip. When evil occurred in the church, it was severely resisted. Galatians 2:11 even records that the apostle Paul opposed the apostle Peter to his face because Peter had compromised with the Judaizers. 1 Corinthians 5:13 tells us that when immorality occurs within the congregation that the wicked person is to be removed.
We go back to the opening verse: Proverbs 20:22, “Do not say, “I’ll PAY YOU BACK for this wrong!” Wait for the LORD, and He will deliver you” {NIV}. Get Angry if you must, But You Can’t Get Even!
“Anyone who angers you conquers you!” (Author Unknown) And last I checked, the Bible Still Says, You Are to Be Led or Controlled By the Holy Spirit ONLY, Not Your Emotions, Feelings, or Hurts! So stop allowing your anger, resentment, and attempts at revenge to become your mini-god! You’ve bowed down to it long enough and often enough already! Cast down the idol of your anger, resentment, and revenge, and serve the Lord as His True Disciple: “Let me give you a new command: Love One Another. In the Same Way, I loved you, you Love One Another. This is how everyone will Recognize That You Are My Disciples – When They See The Love You Have For Each Other” (John 13:35 MSG)
You can’t say out of one side of your mouth that you love God, but out of the other side say you hate your brother or sister! The Bible reads: “If anyone boasts, “I Love God,” and goes right on Hating His Brother or Sister, Thinking Nothing of It, HE IS A LIAR. If he won’t Love the Person He Can See, How Can He Love the God He Can’t See? The Command We Have From Christ Is Blunt: Loving God Includes Loving People. You’ve Got to Love Both” (1 John 4:20 MSG).
Listen, I’ve learned that getting revenge may get us even with our enemies, but forgiveness Places Us Above Them! In fact, we are never more LIKE God than when we turn the other cheek!
In the Lord’s Prayer, the Only petition that is Conditional is Forgiveness! “Forgive Us Our Debts, As We Also Have Forgiven Our Debtors” (Matthew 6:12) Another translation says it like this: “And Forgive Us our debts, As We Also HAVE FORGIVEN (LEFT, REMITTED, AND LET GO OF THE DEBTS, AND HAVE GIVEN UP RESENTMENT AGAINST) Our Debtors” (AMP). Did you get that? Forgive Us Because We’ve ALREADY FORGIVEN THEM FIRST! Now That’s Within Your Jurisdiction!
Hear the Word: “In prayer, there is a connection between what God does and WHAT YOU DO. YOU CAN’T GET FORGIVENESS FROM GOD, FOR INSTANCE, WITHOUT ALSO FORGIVING OTHERS. IF YOU REFUSE TO DO YOUR PART, YOU CUT YOURSELF OFF FROM GOD’S PART” (Matthew 6:15 MSG). However, I don’t think we fully grasp this Scripture!
Look at it this way: If you are angry with your brother or sister over what he or she did to you on December 1, 2009, and you haven’t forgiven them since, all the wrong YOU’VE done since December 1, 2009, HAS NEVER BEEN FORGIVEN BY GOD NO MATTER HOW MANY PRAYERS YOU’VE PRAYED! BECAUSE YOUR FORGIVENESS HINGES ON THEIR FORGIVENESS! I’ll reiterate the text: “In prayer, there is a CONNECTION between what God does and WHAT YOU DO. YOU CAN’T GET FORGIVENESS FROM GOD, FOR INSTANCE, WITHOUT ALSO FORGIVING OTHERS. IF YOU REFUSE TO DO YOUR PART, YOU CUT YOURSELF OFF FROM GOD’S PART” (Matthew 6:15 MSG). I don’t know about you, but I do too much wrong from day-to-day that needs the forgiveness of God, that I can’t afford to go year-by-year Living Outside of the Forgiveness of God!
REMEMBER: IT’S CONDITIONAL! YOU ARE FORGIVEN AFTER YOU’VE FORGIVEN!
The Scripture Will Not Change Just Because You’ve Been Wronged! The Fact Is, If You Don’t Forgive Them, HE Will Not Forgive You! Now, Do You Really Want To Take Chances Living Outside The Forgiveness of God?! Are You Really That Angry With Someone That You Would Rather Walk Around Unforgiven By God?! I don’t know about you, but Absolutely No One Can Make Me That Mad! Anger, Revenge, Resentment, and Unforgiveness are All Expensive! They Will Cost You God’s Forgiveness; Heaven as Your Home; a Crown; a Robe; Your Name Written In the Lamb’s Book of Life; Peace; Joy; Contentment etc…
Therefore, I ask you again, Is Payback Really Worth That Much To You That You Would Pay This High Price to Bankrupt Your Own Soul By Losing So Much of God’s Goodness!?!
Take some time today to really think that over!
Someone may ask you, why should we forgo revenge and offer forgiveness? Tell them it’s simple Because We Have Been Forgiven Repeatedly and Completely By God! Therefore, We Can’t Live Anyway Contrary! We Must Do For Others What Has Been Done For Us, Forgive, Repeatedly and Completely!
To Issue Payback Is Human, But To Pardon Is Divine!
Let’s go a little further: Matthew 18:15-17, “If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him – work it out BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU. If he listens, you’ve made a friend. If he won’t listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. If he still won’t listen, tell the church. If he won’t listen to the church, you’ll have to start over from scratch, confront him with the need for repentance, and offer again God’s forgiving love.”
Don’t Be Messy! Don’t allow your hurt to make you act out of character. If there should be an issue between you and another, take it to them alone! Don’t make a scene; don’t make a show; this is not about performance but repositioning two people at odds so they can call it even. Don’t get caught up in the cliques; don’t involve anyone that’s not a part of the problem and solution.
You see, this is where the church often gets messy. Because we talk to everybody about the situation, except the one person it truly involves. And of course, we only give our side, which is the side that shows us in the best light, although this light is usually a lot dimmer than we’d really like to admit. We want to hear everybody tell us we’re right and we deserve to pay them back for what they did. And truthfully, it’s okay to feel hurt even angry when someone wrongs you, but you still must go about handling it the right way. You can’t say you love God while you curse them out. You can’t say you live for God when you’re trying to destroy someone else’s life. You can’t say you want to be like God while your characteristics are contrary to His character. Take the issue to whom it belongs and resolve it in a godly manner where God would be able to look and say, ‘My children are acting like they belong to Me now.’ Stop inviting outside guests to see you act a fool. Make amends even if you weren’t the one that caused the breach. Remember, you don’t receive forgiveness when you don’t give it.
Matthew 18:21-22, “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, when my fellow believer sins against me, how many times must I forgive him? Should I forgive him as many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, you must forgive him more than seven times. You must forgive him even if he wrongs you seventy times seven”
To many, this seems unfair. It seems wrong. It seems unjust. However, what if God only forgave us seven times, then stopped, where would we be? Can you imagine God saying ‘sorry, you’ve maxed out your forgiveness benefits.’ And Peter only offered seven times. But from birth, how many times have we wronged God? If this were the case, a lot of us wouldn’t be forgiven past our youth! You’re not going to want to hear this, but as a believer, you don’t get to put a limit on forgiveness. Why? Because God doesn’t put a limit on your forgiveness. And since your forgiveness is directly connected to theirs, do you really want God to cut you off as Peter would suggest, at seven? I think not. Because as saved as we are, we sin beyond seven times by the time we wake up in the morning! We need God’s constant forgiveness, and likewise, our brothers and sisters need our constant forgiveness. Pray and ask God to give you a heart of compassion like His. To give you tougher skin to handle offense, because offenses will come, and most often by those we love most. Think of Jesus. After all, He did among the 12, three of them couldn’t even stay awake for Him in prayer, one would doubt Him, one would betray Him and only one could be found at the foot of the cross at His death! And yet, He didn’t replace them; didn’t cut them off; didn’t destroy the friendship; didn’t keep rehearsing what they did and didn’t do. No, He continued to be with them, to reveal more of Himself to them, He still loved them and loved them so much so, that He forgave them. Let us as Christians, start acting more Christ-Like. Stop keeping a head count on who hurt you and how many times. Because if God were to count how many times you’ve hurt Him, what would that number look like?
Today, forgive greatly because you have been greatly forgiven.
Ephesians 4:32, “Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.” (MSG).
Don’t let your mouth get messy! Keep your mouth off people’s lives, and yes that includes those who have hurt you. The Bible clearly speaks against us, Believers, using cutting words, backbiting and profane talk against anyone. That’s not how we speak. That’s not our language. Our words have life and death power, and because we belong to Him, and are to act like Him, our words need to speak life. Not gossip, not slander, not rumors, not lies, not belittling. We are to speak life and do so in a manner that is both gentle and sensitive. After all, you can’t be nasty towards someone who you’re mad at because they were nasty towards you. We don’t get to play tit-for-tat. We should have put all our childish ways aside long ago. We are mature, character and integrity driven saved folks. And its high time we act like it. Use your speech for conversation not cursing.
In addition, remember, once again, to not only forgive but to do so quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you. Don’t hold anymore grudges! Don’t keep replaying the wrong in your mind. Move quickly and thoroughly in forgiveness, which also means you forgive Completely! Don’t use the cowardly way of ‘I’ll forgive but I won’t forget. That’s a backhanded insult to God. That’s a form of godliness while denying its full power to transform you. Live and forgive just as God did for you…quickly and thoroughly!
Does this really need any further comment?!
2 Corinthians 5:18, “God has done all this. He has restored our relationship with him through Christ, and has given us this ministry of restoring relationships” (GWT)
We are not in the business of recklessness, but restoration. Therefore, today, stop tearing down people and stop hurting others because they hurt you. Stop causing discord and division. We are the body of Christ, and as such we are to maintain Its’ health and well-being. And that’s hard to do when you keep pouring the poison of revenge into the Body of Christ. Remember you’ve been called to the ministry of reconciliation, not the messiness of retaliation. Jesus laid down His life to restore our relationship with the Father. And now it’s time for us to follow suit. Let’s restore our relationship with our brothers and sisters, after all, wouldn’t that be what our Father wants of us His children, especially since He used His own Son to do this very thing on our behalf?
For us, payback is a blessing! No exceptions! This is our lifestyle, this is our conduct, this is our behavior. Does it take away the sting of the hurt? Nope! Does it please the Father? Yes! And isn’t that what this is all about? Doing what pleases the Father? It’s what Jesus did, it’s how Jesus lived. Today, let us follow in His footsteps behaving the very same way. Let’s give unbelievers reason to want to inspect our faith further. Let’s live in such a right way, even when we’ve been done wrong, that makes those who hurt us question their own actions. Let’s be a healthy Body of Christ. A healthy church. Healthy believers. After all, if sin is sickening to death, how can an unhealthy Body help bring the cure to the World that needs it? We can’t try to save them, heal them, deliver them, and our conduct says nothing of salvation, healing, and deliverance, instead, it represents malice, anger, revenge, and unforgiveness. Let’s live in such a way that we Shine, and not have that shine dimmed by payback.
Pay Back is a Blessing, So if You are to Pay Anyone Today, Make the Payment a Blessing, and Watch God Add to You a Bonus!
Why go into 2023 carrying the same anger that you have been carrying year after year. Let It Go! You Handle Forgiveness, Let God Handle Payback!
“Don’t treat people the way they treat you. Treat people the way God treats you.” (Davis Willis)
Blessings
J.P. Olson
www.thewordwithjpolson.com
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