NEVER REPAY EVIL WITH EVIL, BUT REPAY EVIL WITH GOOD

Text:- Romans 12:17-21.

The key words in this sentence are Never, Repay, Evil and Good. 'Never' means at no time, on no occasion, in no circumstance, not at any other time, not at all. 'Repay' is to give in return, to give back, to do something for someone in return of what he or she has done. It is to make a return in any way that may be good or bad. 'Evil' is anything which impairs the happiness of a person or deprives them of any good. Anything which causes suffering of any kind or injury or harm or calamity to an individual. Evil is wickedness and it is injurious. 'Good' is acting in the interest of what is beneficial, and it is free of distress or pain. Good is pleasant and satisfactory for a purpose and it could be in form of kindness.

What does the Bible say?

Prov 20:22. Do not say, "I will repay evil; Wait (expectantly) for the Lord, and He will rescue and save you."

Mt 5:44. Jesus said, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."

Rom12:17 & 21. "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

1 Peter 3:9. 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."

Brethren do not repay evil with evil is mentioned not less than three times in the Bible and this signifies emphasis. Therefore, you are admonished to not repay evil with evil. As children of God, you must detest evil for evil because our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ detests evil. For example, the Lord makes His sun to rise upon the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and the unjust. Mt 5:45. Also our Lord Jesus Christ lived by example. He rejects revenge and retaliation as depicted in Mt 5:39 when He said, "But I say to you, do not resist an evil person (who insults you or violates your rights): but who ever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other toward him also (simply ignore insignificant insults or trivial losses and do not bother to retaliate- maintain your dignity, your self-respect, your poise)." Even when Judas betrayed Him with a kiss He just said "Judas you are betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" and His followers sensed what was going to happen, and said "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" And one of them struck the servant of the high priest who participated in the  arrest of  Jesus by cutting off his ear. One would have expected Jesus to be pleased with that act, but instead Jesus answered,"Stop! No more of this!" And He touched the man's ear and healed him. Despite the fact that  it was during His arrest, He did not return their evil plan with evil.  When He was being crucified by the Jews all He said was "Father, forgive them;  for they know not what they do."Lk 23:34. Right at the height of His pain and agony, He still prayed for His enemies. God, our maker and Jesus our Lord and saviour have shown us examples.

Let us consider two characters in the Bible who did not repay evil with evil. David and Joseph.

David:-1 Sam 17-24.

David had a great opportunity to repay king Saul's evil deeds but he did not. He had the chance to take revenge from King Saul who desperately wanted to kill him when he found him sleeping in a cave but he chose not to. David staked his life to face Goliath the Philistine who was always terrorising the Israelites. David being a small boy and not a warrior did not get the support of his brothers but he went a head to face Goliath the giant. God gave him victory and he brought down Goliath and even cut off his head. The king and the Israelites were happy and pleased to the extent that the women went about singing and jubilating and they sang thus "Saul has slain his thousands, and David,  his tens of thousands."1 Sam18:6. This did not go well with Saul, he was  greatly displeased and became angry for he thought they have credited David with tens of thousands  but him with only thousands. He then concluded David will take over the kingdom of Israel.  This was the beginning of David's problem with Saul. Saul planned to kill David at all cost and he applied different strategies. He quarreled with Jonathan his son for being friendly with David. He encouraged David to serve him bravely and to be fighting battles with the intention that David will be killed by the Philistines during the battle. When he knew his daughter Michal was in love with David he was so pleased and he thought he could use that as a snare for David so as to achieve his aim. Saul then demanded no other thing for the bride price other than a hundred Philistines'  foreskins. His plan was that David will fall by the hands of the Philistines. 1sam 18:25. But Alas!  David went and brought him  two hundred foreskins of Philistines. So David became his in -law. David kept going to battles and was returning with success. Saul thought Michal her daughter would sell out David but when she didn't, Saul was displeased with her and he rebuked her. Again Saul ordered his guards to kill the priests of the Lord  because Saul claimed  they sided with David.1 Sam 22:17. He was ready to destroy the city of Keisha when he learnt David was there so David had to move out of Keisha on time. He went on and on with his men pursuing  David with an intention to kill him. When he went  to relieve himself in a cave  not knowing that David too was far back in that cave, David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe. Though David 's men thought it was an opportunity  for David to avenge  but he rebuked his men sharply and did  not allow them to attack Saul. So Saul left the cave unknown to him that David had cut off a corner of his robe. David went out of the cave and showed Saul the piece of the robe that he cut and said "See my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand!  I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you." David knew very well that vengeance belongs to God. So he handed Saul to God and did not repay his evil deeds with evil. After David's speech Saul wept aloud and said "You are more righteous than I. You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. May the Lord reward you well for the way you have treated me today."1 Sam 24:16-18.

Saul realised that he had done evil deeds against David but David did not repay him despite the fact that he had the opportunity to do so. Brethren, you are admonished not to take revenge, not to repay evil with evil but with good, just hand over everything to God and allow Him to avenge for you.

Joseph:- Gen 50:15-21.

Joseph did not repay his brothers with the  evil they did unto him despite the fact that he had the opportunity to avenge them for selling him into slavery. When eventually they met in the land of Egypt, Joseph treated them very well and made them very comfortable. He settled them and gave them property in the best part of the land in the region of Goshen in Egypt around where he lived. But after the death of Jacob their father, his brothers were so distressed and anxious and thought that Joseph would repay them. His brothers said "Joseph will per adventure hate us, and will certainly require us all the evil which we did unto him." They went to him and fell down before his face, and said behold, we be thy servants, Joseph said unto them Gen 50:19-21, "Fear not : for am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good, to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.  Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them." Joseph being a governor then and being in charge of many things in Egypt where his brothers came to search for food had a great opportunity to avenge but he did not. He was so magnanimous and kind to them even to their disbelieve. Brethren, let us learn  from Joseph how he managed the situation and how he was able to overcome evil with good. If Joseph was able, you should be able to as well.

You may not experience what David or Joseph experienced but you are admonished to give blessing for a curse, a favour for a wrong, replace words that tear down confidence with words that build others up, exchange careless words that hurt with words that soothe and overcome the negativity that pushes people away,  but become a well of positivity that draws others in. Replace discouragement with encouragement, hate what is evil and cling to what is good.

Beloved, you may be wondering whether it is possible to repay evil with good always. By the grace of God and by the help of the Holy Spirit it is possible.  Ask God to grant you the grace to do good always and ask the Holy spirit to teach you what to do at all times. Why you should not repay evil with evil?  Because:-

·       It is a command. Rom 12:19. Mt 5:43-45.

·       It is divine. 1 Peter 3:17.

·       It is to proof that we are children of God. Mt 5:9

Benefits of not repaying evil with evil.

·       It preserves you from evil.

·       You become an overcomer.

·       Your act may influence someone to turn from evil ways.

·       It makes you to conquer evil and be victorious over sin.

·       God will rescue you and save you.Pro 20:22.

·       You shall obtain mercy. Mt 5:7.

Prayer:

Father, grant me divine grace  to be able to keep myself in check and fill me more with your spirit so as to  exhibit  godly character in all circumstances and never to think or consider anything evil nor consider revenge.

In Jesus' name. Amen.