Click here to view the entire service
1 Thessalonians 5:15, See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.
1 Peter 3:8-9, To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; 9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.
Romans 12:17,19-21, Never pay back evil for evil to anyone…. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. 20 “But IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
We are going to need nothing less than the power of God to obey these commands. What God says here doesn’t come naturally. If you had been David in that cave when Saul came in to relieve himself, you would have been very tempted to turn him into royal shish kabob. When someone slaps me, I want to slap back. If someone spits at me, I want to spit right back. This behavior begins in the nursery with scenes like this: “Why did you hit him, Billie?” “He took my toy!” And this reactive behavior continues right up through the 80s and 90s. One author said, “The desire to return evil for evil is a most cherished lust of the flesh.”
Not only is this a most difficult message, but living in a sinful world with sinful people, married to a sinful spouse, living with sinful children, being yourself a sinful person and being part of a church full of sinners, there will certainly be opportunity to practice this teaching of God’s Word to return good for evil. In fact, you may think of someone you can practice this on even as we speak. You may need to bake some cookies for someone because of all the evil they’ve done to you over the last weeks, months, or years. Or you can begin right now to pray and ask God to totally bless this person who has hurt you so deeply!
Nothing tests the Christlikeness of our hearts more than when people sin against us, hurt us, or disappoint us. Returning evil for evil is the most natural thing in the world. In fact, the world sees getting even and retaliating as a great virtue. It makes great movies. Have you ever been to a hockey game? What’s the highlight? And we are quick to think we are justified by our anger, irritation, moodiness, or freezing the other person out.
HOW TO HANDLE EVIL IN A NUTSHELL
1 Thessalonians 5:15, See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.
Of the several passages saying the same thing, this verse to the Thessalonians narrows it down to a clear negative and a positive: never return evil for evil but always return good for evil. You must be a Christian to obey this. Even Christians seldom obey it. Or if they do, they still have to deal with that heart issue of resentment and bitterness. Let’s look carefully at this verse 15.
First, this is a high priority issue. “See that….”
Don’t easily dismiss this. God doesn’t just say don’t return evil for evil here. He warns us. Watch it. Stay alert. You will easily justify sin here. Watch over your heart on this issue. Get ready, plan ahead on how you are going to honor Christ when hit by evil.
Second, this is for every believer. “…no one….”
Kids, husbands, wives, employees, employers, church members, leaders, everyone. No exceptions. See that not one person. That means me. That means you.
Third, this requires Jesus Christ’s power and your own choosing. “…repays another with evil for evil…”
This command assumes two things. God is going to give you the strength and wisdom to pull it off. And therefore you can do this. You may not believe what I am going to say right now, but I’m agreeing with God, even though it is hard. Nothing makes us so angry. Nothing gets on our nerves. Nothing pushes our buttons. Nothing drives us up a wall. Nothing makes us react. We choose to react. WE are the ones who choose to return evil for evil, get angry, irritated, all upset, lose control, clam up, shut down, freeze them out, avoid them. For the believer life comes down to this, “Only two choices on the shelf: pleasing God or pleasing self.”
This is really a test of grace in our hearts. We know Christ did not return evil for evil. This is the most striking thing about Him humanly. As they spit on Him and punched and clobbered him with a stick, what did He do? Tommy Nelson said, “Imagine if the Bible said, ‘and being spat upon, He spat back!’” No, Jesus did not return evil for evil but kept entrusting Himself to His Father. As they nailed Him to His cross, He didn’t return evil for evil. As they let Him hang there in open shame, humiliating Him, mocking and scoffing at Him, what did He do? “Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing!” That Jesus Christ stayed on that cross, while having all the power of deity at His disposal to annihilate His enemies, is colossal. To not retaliate, return evil for evil, strike back, snap back, spit back, curse back, hate back, but instead to pray, bless, and do good is grace living.
This is living out our new life in Christ. This is where we reckon ourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. What God is saying is this – you can handle evil God’s way. Christ went to the cross to change us. Coming to Christ means you are a new creation. You have left behind the old life and you are now alive in Christ. You have died with Christ. Now you must reckon yourself dead to your old selfish, sinful, demanding, craving, angry, bitter, self-seeking, self-honoring, self-loving, self-promoting, self-insisting, self-pushing, self-indulging, self-pitying, self-worshiping self!
Go back across last week and recall the moments of unhappiness, strain, irritability, bad temper, and things you said you wished you hadn’t. It all goes back to your desires, craving what pleases you and getting upset when nasty evil comes and you are not pleased. Christ went to the cross to save you from your selfish sinful self.
Think about the kinds of evil that have come to God’s people and you’ll begin to realize not returning evil for evil isn’t easy. But God didn’t say “if it’s easy” don’t return evil for evil.
Nothing is being more like Christ than not returning evil for evil but returning a blessing instead. God purifies us in the furnace of evil adversity. God makes even the wrath of men to praise Him. He uses men’s evil to bring about good! Exhibit #1? The cross. God predestined for evil men to crucify Christ. It wasn’t an accident. What did Job say when he was slammed with the evil of losing everything, including ten of his own children? “The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). God will use evil in my life and yours to bring about His good in our lives.
But you’re thinking, “It’s not right to just let them get away with these lies and evil deeds.” I have a word from God for you. Romans 12:19, “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,’ says the Lord.”
Leave room for God’s wrath means only God has the right to park in the “Vengeance” parking space. It is not for you to part there…don’t even think about parking there. If the act is criminal, Romans 13:4 says government “is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.” If it’s something personal, God will take care of it in His way and His time. Either way, vengeance is God’s parking space. Stay out. Here’s a truth we must remember: God is just and no one gets away with any sin or evil in this world. Those liars up in Washington need to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, but even if they aren’t prosecuted now, they eventually will be. “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
That’s what Abigail told David in 1 Samuel 25 when he was about to pull right into God’s parking space up there at Nabal’s ranch. David’s men had treated Nabal’s men with kindness and goodness. Now David asked a favor and Nabal told him to get lost. David got fired up and formed a posse of 400. They strapped on their swords and off they went to wreak vengeance on Nabal the fool. David said, “Let’s go, fellows, kill them all!” So here they come, 400 of them thundering across the plains on their mules or camels or horses, right up to Nabal’s ranch. David was breathing out vengeance under his breath.
1 Samuel 25:22, May God do so to the enemies of David, and more also, if by morning I leave as much as one male of any who belong to him!
But Abigail, Nabal’s wise wife, went out to meet David and warn him that vengeance belongs to God (1 Samuel 25:26). Thankfully, David listened to her wisdom and dropped his weapons. God knows how to deal with evil better than we do. What did God do? 1 Samuel 25:38, “About ten days later, it happened that the LORD struck Nabal, and he died.” “Vengeance is mine! I will repay,” says the Lord. Revenge may feel sweet at the moment, but it will only displease God and bring about more evil. Two wrongs never make a right.
Fourth, you have more to do than not returning evil for evil. “…but always seek after that which is good…”
This is a strong contrast. Don’t return evil but return good for evil. In every circumstance with every person you will always have something positive to do. Always, no matter how hard and trying the situation may be or how nasty the person may be. Usually it’s the people closest to us that we have the hardest time with. We expect the world to be evil and say nasty things and lie about us and cut us off. But when those closest to us treat us badly and make us bleed and hurt emotionally, our faith is put to the test. Our grasp on God’s sovereignty and our understanding of God’s plan and purpose for us as believers to make us like Christ is tested. Do we believe Romans 8:28 is true?
What does verse 15 say? But always what? Seek! Pursue it! Go after it! Continually and earnestly seek that which is good! Do them good. And not one little measly good thing – “Here’s a French fry, fella.” Oh no. Do something really helpful, beneficial. Take them a meal, bake them a sweet potato pie, offer to wash their windows or mow their yard. Take them a Cappuccino. Greet them with a smile and kind words. Pray for them every day and ask God to bless their lives. Make this a constant pursuit. Do them good and not evil.
You ask me, “Have you ever done this?” Friends, I’m just a messenger. I’m preaching to myself as well. I have to obey this too. But I do know if we don’t aggressively pursue good toward people who do us evil and begin praying for God to bless them, our thoughts will be drawn to a place of having a bitter, resentful spirit toward them. And that attitude will interfere with your walk with God and others. Romans 12:21 puts it like this, “Do not be overcome or conquered by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Find some way to bless them. Here is Jesus’ counsel when enemies appear on the horizon.
Luke 6:27-29, But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either.
What do all these instructions demonstrate? That through Christ you are more than a conqueror. Don’t let someone else’s evil control you. Biblical counselors use the Four Rules of Communication found in Ephesians 4:25-32. The fourth rule of communication is Act, Don’t React found in verses 31-32, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” These are all reactions and evidence that the evil controls you. Someone said bitterness is like drinking poison wishing someone else would die. Two wrongs never make a right. God says overcome evil with good. Act in kindness, be tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.
Fifth, there is no human limitation to this. “…for one another and for all men.”
“But you don’t know how he treated me. I could show goodness to anyone but him.” “Anyone but her.” God says, “For all men.” This is a major life guiding, Christ-pleasing principle of life in this evil world. Joseph practiced it. Joseph’s brothers betrayed him, threw him in a pit, were going to kill him, and eventually sold him into slavery. He went from Potiphar’s house to the palace in Egypt as Prime Minister, the second most powerful man in the world under Pharaoh. He could have easily taken vengeance. He could have marched up to his homeland with an Egyptian army and wiped out his evil brothers. “They deserved it,” you say. But when payday came, when he had opportunity to take vengeance on them, what did he do? He fed his enemies and gave them drink. He blessed them. And when dear old dad died and those brothers figured Joseph was just waiting to get even, he said these amazing words, the Romans 8:28 of the Old Testament.
Genesis 50:19-21, But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. 21 So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
What God-honoring words these are! You meant it for evil but God meant it for good to bring about this good this day! And, not only that, but what does Joseph do in verse 21? He returns good by providing for them, comforting them, and speaking kindly to them. Now that’s what God means about overcoming evil with good.
Evil can be devastating.
We certainly do not take a simplistic view of this biblical principle. I read this week of a young lady who was horribly abused and violated for a good portion of her young life by her father and her uncle. Parents have lost children because of a foolish person’s drunk driving. How hard it is for folks like this to apply these truths. But Christ is sufficient. God’s Word is sufficient for all of life with all its hardships and trials. You may be living with bad memories that continue to haunt you. Harboring bitterness or hate in your mind and heart only harms you. You don’t need to live in fear or hatred or bitterness because someone has done evil to you. You need to draw near to God. He wants you to come to the cross and cast your burden on Him. You may need to get help from another believer who can pray with you and give you counsel from God’s Word.
God’s role for government.
We need to be clear that Paul is not calling for pacifism, non-resistance, or forbidding self-defense. God is not saying there isn’t a place for self-defense when your life or your family’s well-being is threatened, as long as you are in the right. Plus, God has provided government to be His instrument of wrath on evildoers.
Romans 13:4, for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.
Police are God’s servants. It’s an evil spirit motivating those who want to defund the police. God uses armies to protect, uphold, and defend nations from evildoers. Those waging just wars don’t always win in this world. But God will sort it all out. Every evil deed will pay just consequences, either in this world or in God’s final judgment. No one ultimately gets away with evil in God’s universe. “Vengeance is mine; I will repay,” says the Lord God Almighty.
But remember, God says we don’t have the luxury of harboring malice toward those who hurt us. Doing that will only harm us emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Robert E. Lee was visiting a wealthy Kentucky widow after the Civil War. After dinner she led him to the porch and pointed to a prized Magnolia tree that had been shredded by the Union army. She looked to General Lee for a word condemning the North. After pausing a few moments Mr. Lee said, “My dear madam, cut it down and forget it.” (Tempered Steel, Steve Farrar). Whatever the offense, it is best to “cut it down and forget it.”
You may recall Corrie ten Boom’s story about speaking in Munich after World War 2. As people lined up to greet her afterward, she recognized a man who had been her Nazi guard in the war and had caused much pain to her and her sister Betsy. He allegedly had become a Christian, had been forgiven by God for his evil, and now was reaching out his hand asking her to forgive him. All the evil he had inflicted made her want to refuse forgiveness. She hesitated to shake his hand, but God moved her to reach out her hand and say, “I forgive you brother.” Was it easy? No, but she knew God wanted her to forgive the man.
Christ our example.
Let’s finish with looking at Christ in 1 Peter 2:21-24. Here is our model in how to handle evil in this world with one another and with all men as Paul put it.
1 Peter 2:21-24, For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 WHO committed NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; 23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
Christ did not revile in return. He didn’t threaten His enemies. How easy it is to spit back, to curse back, to yell and scream in hate and anger, or to hold grudges and resentment. But instead Christ prayed for His enemies. He saw them as poor lost sinners under Satan’s power, in darkness. He knew this was God’s plan. He entrusted Himself to God and out of the evil came the good of our salvation.
Our confidence in God’s sovereignty.
God has a plan for every one of His children. And he will use even evil in this world to help you grow and fulfill His plan for you. That is a fact. Our greatest comfort in a world of evil is this promise.
Romans 8:28-29, And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren.
Who are God’s enemies? Anyone who is still in their sin because God is holy and can have no part with sin. Thank God He loved his enemies and provided His Son to take the punishment for the sin of anyone who bows before Him and calls on His name will be saved.
Romans 5:10, For while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life.
Romans 10:13, Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.