DO NOT REPAY EVIL WITH EVIL BUT WITH A BLESSING

Proclamation:

“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.  Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult.  On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”  2 Peter 3:8-9 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the apostle Peter, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the believers who scattered after the crucifixion of Christ. (1 Peter 1:1-2)  Peter began this third chapter with instructions on how husbands and wives should treat one another. (1 Peter 3:1-7)  Then he tells them not to repay evil with evil, but to repay evil with a blessing because that is how they will inherit a blessing for themselves.  He goes on to quote King David from Psalm 34 (Psalm 34:12-16) telling them to avoid evil speech, to do that which is good, and to seek peace because the eyes of The Lord God are upon them. (1 Peter 3:10-12)  He ends by telling them to do what is good and to revere the name of The Lord.  For if they suffer for doing that which is right and good, they will be blessed. (1 Peter 3:13-17)  He reminds them that Christ suffered. (1 Peter 3:18-22)

Application:

Again we are told in The Word of God that as believers we are not to repay evil for evil. (Romans 12:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:15, and 1 Peter 3:9)  The Lord God has said that vengeance belongs to Him and He will repay those who do us wrong. (Romans 12:19)  We are to exercise good Christian conversation and behavior, regardless of that which is shown to us.  If we really want to live life to the fullest and enjoy it, then we need to live in such a way as to do no harm to others but to do them good. (1 Peter 3:10-11)  Know that the eyes of The Lord God are always watching us. (Psalm 34:15 and 1 Peter 3:12)

THE LORD GOD WILL AVENGE US FOR VENGEANCE IS HIS

Proclamation:

“Do not say. ‘I’ll pay you back for this wrong!’ Wait for The Lord, and He will avenge you.”  Proverbs 20:22 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by King Solomon under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Here he tells the people not to say that they will pay someone back for doing them wrong.  He reminds them that vengeance belongs to The Lord and He will repay those who do them wrong.

Application:

All of us have been wronged by someone.  Our human nature causes us to want to pay them back for whatever they did to us.  However, as believers, we are not to repay evil for evil. (Romans 12:17)  We are not to take revenge on those who do us wrong.  We must allow The Lord God to do that for us.  He has said in His Holy Word, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay.” (Deuteronomy 32:35, Romans 12:19 and Hebrews 10:30) 

Give To The Poor And Be Blessed

"He who is kind to the poor lends to The LORD, and He will reward him for what he has done."  Proverbs 19:17 (NIV)  The King James version of The Bible reads: "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto The LORD; and that which he hath given will He pay him again."  Proverbs 19:17 (KJV)

Under the inspiration of The Holy Spirit of God, King Solomon, the wisest man to ever live (1 Kings 4:30 and 2 Chronicles 1:11-12), wrote these words to the people of God.  He told them that he who gives to the poor is actually lending to The Lord God, and He will repay him.

We are encouraged to give to the poor and the needy. (Matthew 19:21, Mark 10:21, Luke 11:41, Luke 12:33, and Luke 18:22)  In fact, there are special blessings in store for those who give to the poor. (Psalms 41:1)  The Lord God will protect them, preserve their life, and sustain them when they are sick, and He will restore them to good health. (Psalms 41:2-3)  If we give, then it shall be given unto us. (Luke 6:38)  We are blessed in order to be a blessing to others. (Proverbs 11:25)  If we give to those who are in need, The Lord will bless us.  Jesus said that as we treat the less fortunate, we are doing the same thing to Him. (Matthew 25:40)

As You Have Done It Will Be Done To You

"You should not look down on your brother in the day of his misfortune, nor rejoice over the people ...   in the day of their destruction, nor boast so much in the day of their trouble ... nor look down on them in their calamity in the day of their disaster, nor seize their wealth in the day of their disaster ... 'The day of The Lord is near for all nations.  As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head.' "  Obadiah 1:12-15 (NIV)

A message for the people was given to the prophet Obadiah in a vision.  Because of their pride, and the fact that they stood aloof and did not go the the aid of their brother when he was in trouble, being taken advantage of, and suffering a misfortune, they would be punished and a great disaster awaits them.

The message to us today is that God is not pleased when we look down on people, and when we refuse to help them when they are in need.  We are not to rejoice or boast when misfortune befalls others.  If we do this to people, then the day will come when others will do it to us.  The Golden Rule says that we should do unto others as we would have them to do unto us.  The Bible says "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you ..." (Matthew 7:12 NIV)  The Bible also says "A man reaps what he sows." (Galatians 6:7 NIV)  We should be very careful how we treat people, especially how we treat God's people.