If someone snatches something from us, we usually try to grab it back. When my kid’s sweatshirt was supposedly stolen, we tried to get it back. I wonder what would have happened if we had applied Matthew 5.
Matthew 5:38-42 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for
tooth.’ 39 But I tell
you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn
to them the other cheek also. 40 And
if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go
with them two miles. 42 Give
to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow
from you.
Instead of trying to get the sweatshirt back, what
if we had given a fashionable coat to the person we thought took the sweatshirt?
This is extremely difficult on the “sweatshirt”
level, much less in larger situations. We’ve had renters abandon apartments or
not pay their last month’s rent. We haven’t written them a check equal to a
second month’s rent!!! Maybe this would “kill some with kindness.”
Romans 12:17-21 Do not repay anyone
evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If
it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends,
but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I
will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On
the contrary:
“If your enemy is
hungry, feed him;
if he
is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not
be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
God sees the injustice! In Matthew 5, Jesus commands
us not to get even or retaliate. God sees and it is for Him to avenge. This is
super hard for me to truly trust and apply!!!
Alice
