Rise above Revenge // 1 Thessalonians 5:15

I’m sure you’ve probably heard the proverb, “Two wrongs don’t make a right.” The gist is retaliation for bad behavior doesn’t undo the initial wrong. Jesus taught about this in the Sermon on the Mount when He spoke against the eye-for-an-eye mentality; rather, He said His followers must walk the extra mile, turn the other cheek, and give their very clothes off their own backs (Matthew 5:38-40). This is the essence of what we read by the Apostle Paul in today’s verse: “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.” Paul wrote those words after encouraging those who are strong to help the lazy, timid, and weak. He then went on to write about staying joyful, praying constantly, and expressing gratitude in all circumstances. That cannot be done if you’re always looking for vengeance when you’ve been wronged. What are we to do, then? Rise above it by kneeling down in prayer and service. I think we’d do well to consider Romans 12:19: “Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, ‘I will take revenge; I will pay them back,’ says the LORD.” So, let’s trust the Lord, help those who need it, and give thanks for the things in life — good and not-so-good alike — that draw us closer to God and each other.