My Weblog: The Gospel Preacher.

In 2 Corinthians 11:20, it is written, " 20 For ye ¹suffer, ^aif a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man ²smite you on the face. "  According to the basic principles of this world, it is expected of one to retaliate against any wrong that he or she suffers.  In Colossians 2:8, 9, it is written, " 8 Beware lest any man ¹spoil you through philosophy and ²vain deceit, ³after ^athe tradition of men, ³after the ^brudiments⁴ of the world, and not ³after Christ.  9 For ^ain him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. "  The rudiments of this world are for one to get even with the wrongdoer.  This mentality is contrary to what the Holy Bible teaches.  In Romans 12:17, it is written, " 17 ^aRecompense¹ to no man evil for evil.  ^bProvide² things honest in the sight of all men. "  The apostle Paul ( see 1:1 ) wrote ( see 9:1 and 16:22, for example ), here, that we, as children of God, are not to repay evil for evil.  God says that we are not to retaliate for a wrong we suffer.  The courts can be petitioned where justice demands such action.  In Acts 19:38, it is written ( please read this entire chapter to get the immediate context ), " 38 Wherefore if De-me´-tri-us, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the ¹law is open, and there are ²deputies: let them ³implead one another. "  Here, the town clerk suggested that the court system be used to settle legal matters.  However, as Christians, we must be careful when considering the court system.  In Proverbs 25:8-10, it is written, " 8 ^aGo not forth hastily to ¹strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbor hath put thee to shame.  9 ^aDebate¹ thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and ²discover not a secret to another: 10 lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and ¹thine infamy turn not away. "  God warns us, here, that if we, as Christians, pursue a legal matter in a court of law, we risk the possibility of having our reputation ruined publicly.  Moreover, God says that once our reputation is ruined, we will have to live with that ruined reputation for the rest of our lives.  See also Job 19:4, for example.  A personal issue between two individuals is best resolved by means of a one-on-one discussion of the matter.  There was a well-known legal case a number of nears ago, where a McDonald's customer sued McDonald's because hot coffee was spilled on him or her, and that customer was burned, and that customer received a sizeable settlement.  It would not be a pleasant experience to be burned by hot coffee, but petitioning the court for a sizeable settlement in such a situation would be tantamount to a get-rich-quick scheme via the court system.  God never commanded us ( see Ecclesiastes 12:13, for example ), as His slaves, to get rich quick.  In Proverbs 28:22, it is written, " 22 He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that ^apoverty shall come upon him. "  God says that get-rich-quick schemes result in poverty.  God has ordained that those who are able to work do so to earn an honest living.  In Ephesians 4:28, it is written, " 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather ^alet him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give ^bto him that needeth. "  For a consideration of the concept of vengeance, please see the SmartArt graphic, below:

The natural tendency for us, as human beings, is to seek vengeance for every wrong we suffer.  Jesus is our example in all cases.  In 1 Peter 2:21-24, it is written, " 21 For ^aeven hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, ^bleaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 ^aWHO DID NO SIN, NEITHER WAS ¹GUILE FOUND IN HIS MOUTH: 23 ^awho, when he was reviled, reviled not ¹again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but ^bcommitted himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 ^awho his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, ^bthat we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: ^cby whose ¹stripes ye were healed " ( Emphasis mine, R.E.W. ).  We are not to threaten others when they persecute us, as Christians.

In 1 Corinthians 4:12, it is written, " 12 ^aAnd labour, working with our own hands: ^bbeing reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we ¹suffer it. "  It is not easy to bless someone when they revile us, but God commands it.  The apostle Paul took pleasure in reproaches, for example ( see 2 Corinthians 12:10, for example ).  This is an example of what it means to be weak in Christ.  God says that we, as His children, do not have to respond to every reproach or other wrong that we suffer.  In Proverbs 10:19, it is written, " 19 ^aIn the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but ^bhe that ¹refraineth his lips is wise. "  Please seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read ( see Isaiah 34:16, for example ). 🕮