You may have heard the story of an elderly lady who was driving a big, new expensive car and was trying to back into a parallel parking space when suddenly a young man in a small sports car zoomed in ahead of her. The woman angrily asked why he had done that when he could tell she was trying to park there. His response was simply "Because I'm younger and faster!" The young man then entered the store. When he came back out a few minutes later he found the elderly woman using her big car as a battering ram, backing up, and then ramming it into his car. He very angrily asked her why she was wrecking his car. Her response was "Because I'm old, and I'm rich!"

Along with this story is the addage, "Don't get mad, get even," as the bumper sticker says. However, most of us understand that this is not the best way to handle ourselves when under the stress of having had someone do something unkind to us. In fact, nothing evens the score when the unkindness is returned. It only leaves both sides bruised and the conflict is not resolved. In fact, the seething anger of resentment does more damage to the inner spirit and the body of the victim when he has an attitude of revenge.

The only way that "the score" is settled is when we do the Christlike thing and employ the measures taken in Romans 12:20-21 After saying that "Vengence is mine, I will repay," says the Lord," the Apostle Paul writes: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

This may not seem like the common-sense thing to do when confronted by our enemy, but it really is. When you give your enemy what he needs, it disarms him because he was not expecting such a kind reaction from you. He was hoping that you would respond in anger, giving him justification for the evil act that he had done to you. Secondly, it shows him that you are a greater person by not stooping to pettiness, and will cause him to be ashamed of his own.

Thirdly, the "coals of fire" mentioned by Paul will be the response of God and by others when you are wronged and do not take revenge. God will turn the the burning wrath of the evil doer back on himself, and if the evil-doer is not careful, his own wrath will destroy him. Other people will also see this, and it won't be the victim who looks badly in this situation, it will be the evil-doer. This is all a result of repaying evil with kindness.

I have more stories than I have time to illustrate about this matter, but I believe that all of us can agree that vengence does more harm to the victim and that kindness will do more to resolve a negative situation than anything else that we can know. What is even greater is that God is glorified in our obedience and trust in Him, and that one day-maybe not right away, but one day-God will ultimately even the score.

Have a blessed day!

Jeff Russell
Friendship Baptist Church,
Langenselbold, Germany

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