I noticed an interesting bug in the garden around the zucchini, squash, and pumpkins. My investigation revealed not just a few bugs, but an infestation of these little oblong creatures. I saw big bugs, the size of quarter, and itty bitty nymphs, the size of a pen head. Ugh! I began to exterminate them with Neem’s Oil and my gloved hands. After several treatments, I believed I won the battle of the bug. Until…last week, when I saw a few of these little buggers once again.
I began squishing them with the rocks surrounding the garden boxes and my gloves. I was on a mission to kill every last one of them. I squished and squashed. I saw that as I crushed them, they left a turquoise colored residue – although intriguing, I continued with my efforts to eradicate them from the garden.
I saw a large creepy crawly bug moving along the garden box and I took a large rock and approached with force. I stoned that bug, but it got payback against me for my efforts. The turquoise internal matter of the bug flew into my face, hair, and all over my shirt. I was covered in bug guts. This creature retaliated against my death threats.
Payback – A way to get even. An act of revenge or retaliation. Causing harm to someone because of feeling hurt by them.
Since the incident with the garden bug, I find myself pondering the way the bug seemed to retaliate against me for my action towards it. I began wondering about the words payback and retaliation. In our Christian circles we don’t talk about the ways we “get even,” retaliate against one another, or the times we payback when feeling wronged by someone. Unfortunately, these sin-filled attitudes and actions infiltrate the Church as well as the world.
Getting payback, revenge, or retaliation operate in society each day. I see this when watching children play: one child takes a toy from another and a shoving match ensues. Payback exists on the roadway. A car that was “cut off” by another car pulls in front of the other vehicle intentionally slow down, blocking the path forward. What about the silent treatment? Someone doesn’t like a comment spoken about them, or the way someone handled a situation, so the person purposefully ignores the individual or makes them “pay” in some other way. A person becomes disgruntled with their “church,” so they change churches and speaks ill of the former.
Although the bug got payback by drenching me in bug guts, payback in relationships involves human effort to protect oneself. In efforts to guard against personal pain, we react in disordered ways. Perhaps insecurity, anger, pride, selfishness, or entitlement motivate the retaliation. We purposely ignore interaction, pray for God to “get them,” speak poorly of the individual, fail to offer help, point out flaws to others, withhold touch and affection, and hope for the worst.
This does not reflect the heart of Jesus. Jesus instructed His followers to bless those who curse us, to pray for those who mistreat us, and to love our enemies (Luke 7:27-36). Walking in the way of Jesus means not getting payback or retaliating against those who hurt us, but doing just the opposite by extending mercy, forgiveness and tender-heartedness.
Take a minute to reflect honestly. Recall a situation in which you felt hurt, taken advantage of, or treated unfairly. Notice how you felt and what you thought. How did you act as a result of that treatment? In what ways, subtle or obvious, did you get payback against the one by whom you felt hurt? Sometimes we don’t realize our habits of payback and retaliation. Pay attention to your attitudes and actions when you feel wronged by someone.
In the New Testament, the Jewish people awaited a king (Luke 19:38, Acts 1:6). They looked for a king to rule and, perhaps, enact payback for the ways they experienced mistreatment. Israel believed they deserved to be treated differently and wanted to overthrow Roman oppression. Yet, Jesus very clearly came to bring forth a different kingdom – the Kingdom of God, one in which God alone enacts vengeance and the people of God love their enemies and do good towards others.
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:9-21
Jesus words in Luke 6 as well as this passage in Romans offer the remedy to payback, revenge, and retaliation. Followers of Jesus must payback with love and goodness. When wronged, Scripture instructs our mind, heart, and body not to retaliate, but to extend generosity with love, forgiveness, mercy, and peace. We get to live according to a different kingdom; a Kingdom ruled by grace and mercy.
Read the Romans’ passage again – slowly – let it sink into the core of your being. Let the Kingdom of God rule your response when wronged or hurt by others. Experience Jesus life-giving approach to hardship. Jesus showed us the way: follow Him. And…be careful when squishing bugs.🪳
This week – – –
Reflect. Meditate on Luke 6:27-36 (see below). Which of the commands Jesus makes in this passage seems most difficult for you? Talk with God about what stirs within you. How can you live actively reflecting the Kingdom of God, as pointed out in these verses?
Request. Thank God for His generosity to you. Ask the Holy Spirit to convict you when you “try to get even” or get payback when you feel wronged by someone. Confess and receive the cleansing of God. Look to Jesus to show you the way to live a generous merciful life towards others. Be still in His grace as you grow in goodness and love.
Receive. Imagine the extravagant love of Christ, demonstrated by the cross, covering every wrong committed by you and towards you. Receive Jesus tender care of your wounds – let His kindness and attention bring His healing balm to those spaces in your soul. Rest and Receive. You are loved!
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Drips from the Word: Muse about these Bible verses. Let these truths impact your living.
Luke 6:27-31 – “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Luke 6:32-36 – “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Splashes from the Spigot: Drink from deep wells. Read these recommended books to fill your soul.
Cardinal Walter Kasper. Mercy: The Essence of the Gospel and the Key to Christian Life. Mahwah, NJ. 2014.
William P. Smith. How to Love Difficult People: Receiving and Sharing God’s Mercy.Greensboro, NC. 2008.
Sprinklings of Truth: Soak in meaningful songs. Check out these music videos to lift up your spirit.
Casting Crowns. All Because of Mercy. Click here to watch & listen.
Jon Guerra. Love Your Enemies. Click here to watch and listen.