We love to get even.
Take World War II for example. Europe was being ripped apart by the tyranny of Hitler. The other side of the world faced decimation by a virulent Japanese military. The United States stood aloof, refusing to get involved except in the most carefully “uninvolved” manner.
It took an attack on our nation’s sovereign soil to invoke our wrath. When Pearl Harbor was hit by the Japanese, we reacted with furor. The indignity was beyond belief. The infamy would not be tolerated. America’s great fist swung into motion, and we crushed the two mighty powers that threatened the rest of the world.
We might call it justice, but it felt really good to get even.
Our criminal justice system is much the same. It’s all about the justice, but we also want the victims to feel satisfied with the sentence meted out. If the criminal gets off on a technicality, we feel cheated and hollow, as if we’ve been betrayed by a court system that’s let us down.
How do we feel about spiritual injustice? The Bible takes a stand on the matter in Romans 12:19:
“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ ”
Our neighbor maligns us, creating fractious relationships in our neighborhood. Do we spread vicious rumors about them, or do we smile and speak of the goodness of the Lord?
Our spouse abandons us for greener pastures. Do we use our children as weapons to punish him or her? Or do we leave it in the hands of our almighty God for the greater good of our children’s well-being?
We feel slighted by our choir director, as she chooses less skilled soloists each Sunday morning. Do we make snide comments, even skip Wednesday night practices, just to make our point clear? Or do we raise our hands in praise anyway, trusting the Father to work his grace through every song, no matter whose voice sings it?
Getting even is not in God’s dictates for our lives. We will feel wronged. That’s the nature of living with our fellow human beings. The nature of living with our Father God is to show forgiveness, for that is the Christ-like thing to do.
Draw nigh unto God, and he will make us into his own image.
Copyright © 2016 MyChurchNotes.net
Originally Published 2-06-16 in Relationships