Revenge would surely be mine. I didn’t care if it was served cold or otherwise. I certainly would have my revenge. In fact, it was now THE thing most present on my mind. Just a few moments longer and a little bit of maneuvering. And then I would have it.
My sweet, sweet revenge. Oh how they will pay!
Ever think that way while you are in everyday road traffic and someone cuts you off? Or won’t speed up when you are behind them in the “fast lane?” Or for tailgating you when you are already going over the speed limit?
Pretty sobering, eh?
I’ll be the first to admit, my mind can easily get inebriated when I am emotionally irrational in traffic. But here’s the thing: to seek revenge is to act completely counter to how God wants us to act. I suspect that’s precisely why Jonathan Edwards made resolution number 14.
Let’s look a little closer:
Jonathan Edwards Resolution 14
Edwards’ Resolution #14 (as it was written)
Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge.Edwards’ Resolution #14 (in my modernized language)
Never to take action for the sake of revenge.
In the pursuit of revenge, even in the achievement of it, we are visible to a watching world. God has commanded us to build up one another rather than seeking vengeance. But why should we serve those we would rather make pay?
The Wisdom of Not Seeking Revenge
One of the best places to begin looking for Christian wisdom is the book of Proverbs. On this topic, there are a couple that come to mind.
Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.”
Wait for the Lord to handle the matter.
– Proverbs 20:22 (NLT)
This one is very much like Proverbs 24:29 in that it warns us not to think or say you are looking to even the score when others do you wrong. The one from book 20, though, specifically says to allow the Lord to handle the matter.
Why do you think that is? When read along with the rest of the book, it’s sort of sandwiched just past the middle of it. On the top side, is a presentation of many sources of humanistic darkness. Alcohol produces drunkenness, and therefore fighting. Laziness leads to hunger and despair. Ignorance leads to foolishness. Cheating produces dishonor. There’s so much more leading into it, including the wise counsel to not keep personal scores.
And then it happens… don’t seek revenge when you’ve been wronged; leave it to God. Why, we’ll get to that in a moment. First, look at Proverbs 24:29 (NLT), which says “And don’t say, ‘Now I can pay them back for what they’ve done to me! I’ll get even with them!’”
Similar to the first Proverb, if you were to read book 24 in total, you’ll see it speaks to the perils of a sinister lifestyle. It addresses the many means by which our thoughts can become corrupt in selfish thought. After all, the root desire for revenge is typically selfish ambition. It might be jealousy, it might be a feeling of inferiority, or maybe it’s a matter of personal shame for our own shortcomings and failures.
Regardless, to seek revenge is to seek satisfaction of a selfish ambition. That’s a foolhardy quest and one that God frowns upon.
Why We Are Not to Seek Revenge
It’s pretty fair to assume that we will not go through life never being wronged. There will be times when we either believe we were wronged, or that we were, in fact, wronged. It’s a pretty simple fact.
The Proverbs we just examined make it pretty clear. They also present the environment and conditions where a desire for revenge may occur. Again, it’s in the context of humanity’s darkest darkness that we find it. And, if we give into being equally bleak, we’re merely blending in.
Yes, as revenge seekers, we are no better – perhaps worse – than the perpetrator who triggered our quest. For instance, perhaps that person who cut me off had a terrible blind spot or is learning to drive a new vehicle. Maybe they honestly didn’t see me – we are human after all. Perhaps the person that won’t get out of the fast lane is staying there to allow incoming traffic to have an easier way onto the interstate (thank you, by the way). Or maybe, just maybe, my tailgater has a tailgater challenging him or her.
Do I make matters better or worse by seeking revenge?
The answer is the same whether the offense was born of innocence or otherwise.
So, let’s say I do indeed go after revenge. Let’s say I make a few adjustments and now I am drastically tailgating my offender. He or she looks up and sees the cross hanging from my rearview mirror. Or perhaps I get in front of the slow driver and go even slower. That gives them plenty of time to peer at the Christian bumper stickers I am ever so proud of having.
But hey, at least I am getting my revenge. Surely they are sorry, upset and frustrated, right?
Maybe. But I bet they will have a few choice words for Christians, too. Boy, I’m being a great ambassador of the light, aren’t I?
What Are The Alternatives to Revenge?
With a mind not motivated by revenge, what, then, is the proper motivation? To answer that, we can look first to Peter, who suggests we are to instead be blessings (I Peter 3:9). That sentiment is echoed again in I Thessalonians 5:15. However, Paul, in his second letter to the church in Corinth, is more direct, informing us how we are to be blessings.
Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. – 2 Corinthians 13:11 (ESV)
I could expand further on some scriptures for helping us to understand that revenge is God’s Work to do (Deuteronomy 32:35 and Hebrews 10:30). Similarly, because we have been forgiven, I could explore more deeply that we should follow the same model (Mark 11:25, Matthew 5:38-39, Matthew 18:21:22, and Ephesians 4:31-31).
However, in essence, it’s comes down to a pursuit of peace (Romans 12:19). And in building people up, we find peace. As ambassadors of Christ, it is therefore our duty to be encouraging. It’s important for us to be supportive, compassionate, and perhaps even be in service those who would have pursued for revenge.
Any thoughts or reflections on this? I’d love to hear about it.