How to Respond without Taking Revenge
When someone sins against you, how should you fight your inner impulse to return evil for their evil? How can you respond without getting revenge?
God’s design for true Christians is that, even when Satan squeezes them, the Scripture runs out. The Lord comforts believers in all their tribulations in order that they can know how to comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:3-8). This should alert us as to how the Lord makes us “competent to counsel” (Romans 15:14). He brings us through trials by His grace so that we can comprehend that grace to show it and share it with others.
One of the questions we have all faced is how respond in our trials – especially when these trials come at the hands of other human beings. It’s one thing to suffer through a disease; it’s quite another when the suffering was caused by someone’s carelessness, violence, or slander. It is this second aspect that is under consideration: how should we respond to violence, insults, or slander without a vengeful spirit?
1 Peter 2:19-25 specifically anticipates that a believer will be falsely accused. In the words of 1 Peter 2:20, “… if you take it patiently, this is acceptable to God.” In fact, according to verse 21, this is what we are called to do: follow the steps of the suffering Christ. When He was wronged, He did not sin, nor did He try to deceive anyone (v.22). When He was reviled, He did not react to the offenders with harsh, sarcastic speech. When He suffered, Jesus did not make threats (v. 23). How did Jesus do this? He submitted Himself to the Father who knows everything and judges righteously (v. 23). He left us a remarkable example, and healed us by His suffering (vs. 24-25).
“You mean I’m supposed to bless them when they are blasting me?!”
So, in 1 Peter 3:9, Peter instructed believers to turn away from returning evil for evil; they were not to revile those who blasted them with harsh speech. What should we do instead, according to verse 9? Instead of blasting them we should respond with “blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.” If you are like me, you are marveling over Peter’s instruction. You mean I’m supposed to bless them when they are blasting me?! Yes, because we have the promise that we will receive a blessing.
Jesus prayed for His tormentors while He was on the cross. He prayed that they would be blessed with the eternal forgiveness of the Father (Luke 23:34). In situations like these, we have Christ’s example and Christ’s commands. In Matthew 5:43-44, He commanded His followers to respond in 4 ways to those who act like enemies: love them, bless them, do good to help them, and pray for them.
How is it possible for a believer to respond rightly when he or she is being blasted?
1. Remember that the Lord is in charge of repaying people for the evil they have done. You and I are not in charge.
Vengeance belongs to the Lord (Romans 12:19, quoting Psalm 94:1-3. Don’t steal what belongs to God.
When Joseph’s brothers suspected that he would seek revenge, he responded, “Fear not, for am I in the place of God?” (Genesis 50:19). By getting himself out of the way, he helped his brothers look to the Lord. Obadiah said to all the nations, “as you have done, it shall be done unto you: your reward shall return upon your own head” (Obadiah 15). Jesus capitalized on this principle by giving us what is commonly called, “the Golden Rule.” “And as you would that men should do to you, do also to them likewise [to them].” (Luke 6:31).
2. Concentrate on following God’s command to bless those who blast you. Bless them by praying for them and being kind to them.
The goodness of God, seen in your life, may bring them to repentance (Romans 2:4). Try to encourage them to do what is right without enabling them to do what is wrong. Pray, knowing that the Lord hears you and will resist those who sin (1 Peter 3:12). Those who have sinned against you have invested in the wrong side of “the principle of sowing and reaping.” They will harvest what they have planted. Don’t follow their example! Invest in blessing them, even if the Lord uses their evil to correct you, knowing that you will enjoy the peaceable fruit of righteousness (Hebrews 12:11).
3. When you are struggling with evil done to you, look to the Lord Jesus and His example as the Source of blessings.
You can bless others knowing that you shall inherit a blessing from the Lord (1 Peter 3:9). Pray with the full knowledge that “the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”
And remember, you can respond without revenge.
For further discussion, see “How to Have Peace at Home.”
Pastor Gordon Dickson, Calvary Baptist Church, Findlay, Ohio