If a person pays back evil for good, evil will never leave his house. ~Proverbs 17:13
It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. ~1 Peter 3:17-18
If someone forces you to go a mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, “love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I tell you: love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. ~Matthew 5:41-48
It’s hard to imagine that someone would respond with evil to another’s kindness. Yet, it happens. David wrote about having such an experience in Psalm 35. “Ruthless witnesses come forward. they question me about things I know nothing about. They repay me evil for good and leave my soul forlorn. Yet, when they were ill, I put on my sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered, I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother. I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother. But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; attackers gathered against me when I was unaware. They slandered me without ceasing. Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked; they gnashed their teeth at me. O Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my life from their ravages, my precious life from these lions.” (Psalm 35:11-17)
I think of how often, earlier Christians set out to do good, but were repaid with imprisonment and death. Sometimes their actions were misunderstood. Other times, there actions were not appreciated. Sometimes, people hate the good we do and the righteousness that we stand for and they are intent on destroying our message of love, hope, peace and redemption. They like their evil and the power that they think it brings. Jesus on the cross is the ultimate example of how evil tries to destroy what is good in our world.
Solomon assures us: “If a person pays back evil for good, evil will never leave his house.” That’s a long-term perspective that most do not consider when they set out to have their own way. “House” refers to descendants, not the physical home. People usually do not ask themselves, “How will this effect my children?” It is far better then, to do the right thing anyway. Paul tells the Colossians” “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.” (Col. 33:23-24)
In Jesus’ day, as you probably already know, it was a regular practice for Roman soldiers to take a commoner from the streets and order them to carry their pack for them a mile. As you can imagine, the Jewish people disliked being treated that way, as I’m pretty sure we would as well. Jesus, on the other hand says: “If someone forces you to go a mile, go with him two miles.” Turn their evil into good for the sake of your Father. This was a new teaching!
“It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.” Evil, is taking matters into our own hands. Evil, is not trusting God to take care of things. “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19) Think about it, if God visits evil on the generations of descendants of the person who pays back evil for your good, what is that in comparison with your petty little pay back?
It’s better not to bother to concern yourself with the evil person. Instead, continue to focus on doing good, showing love, and going the extra mile. Jesus is right when He describes our typical behavior. “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?”
We usually greet people who have greeted us. We are kind to those who have been kind to us. Jesus is saying, instead, be kind to everyone. Greet everyone, not just those we know, not just friends and those we know we like and like us in return. Be good to all, even those who have been evil toward you. In so doing, we are, again, imitating Christ who was the kindest of all to all of us, His enemies. None of us deserved such kindness, but God did it anyway, because it was the right thing to do by His law. When we can do the same, we are only imitating Christ who “died once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous” to bring us to Himself.
The verses below reportedly were written on the wall of Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta, India, and are widely attributed to her. Some sources say it was written on the wall in Mother Teresa's own room. In any case, their association with Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity has made them popular worldwide, expressing as they do, the spirit in which they lived their lives. The poem is based on a composition originally by Dr. Kent Keith, when he was just 19 years old. There is a very interesting story about this poem at Dr. Kent Keith’s website: http://www.kentmkeith.com/mother_teresa.html
ANYWAY
People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered,
LOVE THEM ANYWAY
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives,
DO GOOD ANYWAY
If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies,
SUCCEED ANYWAY
The good you do will be forgotten tomorrow,
DO GOOD ANYWAY
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable,
BE HONEST AND FRANK ANYWAY
What you spent years building may be destroyed overnight,
BUILD ANYWAY
People really need help but may attack you if you help them,
HELP PEOPLE ANYWAY
Give the world the best you have, and you'll get kicked in the teeth,
GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST YOU'VE GOT ANYWAY.
Prayer: Thank You, Father, for setting such a good example and for promising us rewards for doing the right thing no matter how hard it is. Help me to follow in your footsteps and not be concerned about anything other than what pleases you. Make my motives pure and good. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Song: Anyway
It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. ~1 Peter 3:17-18
If someone forces you to go a mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, “love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I tell you: love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. ~Matthew 5:41-48
It’s hard to imagine that someone would respond with evil to another’s kindness. Yet, it happens. David wrote about having such an experience in Psalm 35. “Ruthless witnesses come forward. they question me about things I know nothing about. They repay me evil for good and leave my soul forlorn. Yet, when they were ill, I put on my sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered, I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother. I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother. But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; attackers gathered against me when I was unaware. They slandered me without ceasing. Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked; they gnashed their teeth at me. O Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my life from their ravages, my precious life from these lions.” (Psalm 35:11-17)
I think of how often, earlier Christians set out to do good, but were repaid with imprisonment and death. Sometimes their actions were misunderstood. Other times, there actions were not appreciated. Sometimes, people hate the good we do and the righteousness that we stand for and they are intent on destroying our message of love, hope, peace and redemption. They like their evil and the power that they think it brings. Jesus on the cross is the ultimate example of how evil tries to destroy what is good in our world.
Solomon assures us: “If a person pays back evil for good, evil will never leave his house.” That’s a long-term perspective that most do not consider when they set out to have their own way. “House” refers to descendants, not the physical home. People usually do not ask themselves, “How will this effect my children?” It is far better then, to do the right thing anyway. Paul tells the Colossians” “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.” (Col. 33:23-24)
In Jesus’ day, as you probably already know, it was a regular practice for Roman soldiers to take a commoner from the streets and order them to carry their pack for them a mile. As you can imagine, the Jewish people disliked being treated that way, as I’m pretty sure we would as well. Jesus, on the other hand says: “If someone forces you to go a mile, go with him two miles.” Turn their evil into good for the sake of your Father. This was a new teaching!
“It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.” Evil, is taking matters into our own hands. Evil, is not trusting God to take care of things. “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19) Think about it, if God visits evil on the generations of descendants of the person who pays back evil for your good, what is that in comparison with your petty little pay back?
It’s better not to bother to concern yourself with the evil person. Instead, continue to focus on doing good, showing love, and going the extra mile. Jesus is right when He describes our typical behavior. “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?”
We usually greet people who have greeted us. We are kind to those who have been kind to us. Jesus is saying, instead, be kind to everyone. Greet everyone, not just those we know, not just friends and those we know we like and like us in return. Be good to all, even those who have been evil toward you. In so doing, we are, again, imitating Christ who was the kindest of all to all of us, His enemies. None of us deserved such kindness, but God did it anyway, because it was the right thing to do by His law. When we can do the same, we are only imitating Christ who “died once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous” to bring us to Himself.
The verses below reportedly were written on the wall of Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta, India, and are widely attributed to her. Some sources say it was written on the wall in Mother Teresa's own room. In any case, their association with Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity has made them popular worldwide, expressing as they do, the spirit in which they lived their lives. The poem is based on a composition originally by Dr. Kent Keith, when he was just 19 years old. There is a very interesting story about this poem at Dr. Kent Keith’s website: http://www.kentmkeith.com/mother_teresa.html
ANYWAY
People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered,
LOVE THEM ANYWAY
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives,
DO GOOD ANYWAY
If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies,
SUCCEED ANYWAY
The good you do will be forgotten tomorrow,
DO GOOD ANYWAY
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable,
BE HONEST AND FRANK ANYWAY
What you spent years building may be destroyed overnight,
BUILD ANYWAY
People really need help but may attack you if you help them,
HELP PEOPLE ANYWAY
Give the world the best you have, and you'll get kicked in the teeth,
GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST YOU'VE GOT ANYWAY.
Prayer: Thank You, Father, for setting such a good example and for promising us rewards for doing the right thing no matter how hard it is. Help me to follow in your footsteps and not be concerned about anything other than what pleases you. Make my motives pure and good. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Song: Anyway
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