Don’t Get Even

Living in this world, we as Christians should expect to be treated wrongfully.

But it seems that those who are ill—and those who care for them—are more vulnerable to offense. Maybe it’s because we’re more tired than most, our emotions raw. We take our caregiving duties seriously. No one likes to see loved ones mistreated. We don’t like to be mistreated. But inevitably, sometime in the process of doctor visits, hospital stays, tests, and treatments, we’ll take offense with something that’s said or done. Our natural response is to get even, to return the offense to the person who gave it.

But God says He will handle those offenses. The reality is that when we try to get even, we only hurt ourselves more. When we try to take on God’s responsibilities, we usurp His place by implying that we know better than Him.

Jesus said that our human responsibility is to “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” (Matthew 5:44 KJV).

Allow the offense to rest. And let God do His work.