Have you ever been walking through the forest, just admiring all of the trees, leaves and animals, when all of a sudden you felt a sharp pain on your face, and your eyes began to water? What happened is that you got slapped in the face with a branch of a tree as you walked by. It hurts, doesn’t it? I have lived most of my life here in Minnesota, and I have spent many hours in the woods, and as a result I know how painful it feels when you are suddenly whipped with a tree branch as you walk by them. In fact, I find myself rather angered with this sudden burst of pain, and I will often take out my anger and frustration on that branch by breaking off the entire branch from the tree. It doesn’t actually take away the feeling of pain that I received, but it kind of gives me the feeling that I “payed back” the tree for hurting me. Now, this is a just a tree, and not a person, but that kind of a “payback” mentality is not how we are to treat others when they wrong us, as it is written several times throughout the Scriptures.
Romans 12:17-21 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
A recompense is an equivalent returned for anything given, done, or suffered; compensation; reward; amends; requital. That which compensates for an injury, or other type of harm or damage.
I’m sure that pretty near all of us have had this kind of a revengeful feeling at some point or another. Someone did something wrong to us that angered us so much that we desired to bring about some kind of a similar pain upon them. We desired to avenge ourselves of the injury that we received, but you see, as Christians we need to resist that urge to return evil for evil. We need to not return the harm that is done towards us, but to instead allow ourselves to suffer. Some people may say this is a sign of weakness, but let me tell you that it takes far more strength to resist the urge to avenge yourself than to return the evil done towards you. Instead of avenging ourselves, we need to take the high road, and show others that love is greater than hate.
Matthew 5:38-44 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
That natural feeling of self avengement needs to be thrown out of our lives, and replaced with the actions of love as we allow ourselves to go through suffering. Just like Christ, we need to just allow ourselves to be persecuted, because we know that in the end God will avenge us.
Suffering is a part of being a Christian. It is as simple as that. But know this, your reward will be great in Heaven. So the next time that you are made to suffer or to go through pain at the hands of others, just allow it to happen, and remember, vengeance belongs to the Lord.
In Christ
Andrew
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