Mean people are everywhere! All you need to do is get in public for a few minutes and you will encounter someone doing something that is unkind to someone else. Most of those encounters we never respond to, we just walk away and go to the next item on our list for the day. We have become accustomed to seeing others treat others badly. It’s in the news daily, and with the internet, it seems to stay front and center. We talk about it and wonder how people can be so evil and just plain mean! The question today is how do you react when evil or mean things are done to you? It may be actions that cause you pain or words. Either way, how do you, or how should you, react? In I Peter 3:9, we are told how to act and in verses 10 – 12 Peter backs up his grounds for his appeal.
I Peter 3:9 “Not rendering evil for evil or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”
When someone does mean things to us, our flesh usually wants to fight back. It is a natural instinct. We begin to plot how we will tell them off or defend ourselves to others. We seek revenge. We may not say we want revenge, but that is what it is if we are wishing or plotting to “get them back” for what they did. We are not to “render evil for evil.” The word render means giving back, or exchanging something. The verb rendering in this verse is also an ongoing action, meaning you keep returning evil for evil. The word evil to us would indicate very bad behavior. In this situation, it would cover anything bad, harmful, or wrong actions toward another. It could include physical actions or words that would injure our character. The word railing is referring to returning verbal abuse for verbal abuse. Peter is not the only one that God uses to remind us of how we should respond to mean people. Paul gives us these same commands in Romans 12:17 and I Thessalonians 5:15.
Romans 12:17 “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”
1Thessalonians 5:15 “See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.”
So, if we can’t vent and say things back, how does God expect us to act? The word “contrariwise” means to do the very opposite of what has been done to you! The opposite of wrong for wrong is to bless someone. How can we do this? We are to be committed to obedience to our Savior. Jesus himself said in Matthew 5:44 to “bless those who curse you.” To bless someone is to make a positive request to God on their behalf. We should respond this way to others who have wronged us because that is what Jesus did, and He is our example. We are to follow His footsteps and be set apart from acting like the world. The world’s response would be revenge. Christ’s response is to forgive. This type of response will change people’s hearts. Only forgiveness can break the cycle of revenge. Jesus said in Matthew 6:15 if we can’t forgive others we won’t be forgiven. If we respond with blessings, we will inherit a blessing ourselves.
Matthew 6:15 “But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
As the late Paul Harvey would say, here is “the rest of the story.” For those who react the way God instructs through his word, there will be blessings that are incomparable. Verse 10 tells us that he will love life. Peter is quoting Psalm 34. The person who reacts to mean people God’s way chooses to have a loving life, filled with enjoyable days, that are beneficial to him.
First, Peter says he must refrain, or stop his tongue from speaking evil of anyone. The meaning of this is that even in the face of hostility, we must be kind.
Second, we must “eschew” evil. This means we must turn away from it. Avoid it at all costs. We are to turn away, and do good.
Third, this person, who is seeking to do what is right and not return evil for evil, must seek peace. This must be something he pursues. It must be an intentional quest.
Peter finishes these verses with the positive and the negative. The positive is that the Lord is taking care of the righteous. He is open and listening to their prayers. He will take care of them. The negative is that “the face of the Lord,” meaning His presence, is against those who do wrong.
I Peter 3:10 – 12 “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”
We are to do what is right no matter how others treat us. It is so easy to want to take matters into our own hands and seek revenge. We feel justified in our actions, and the vast majority of people would think this is the proper way to handle a situation where we have been wronged. However, God says it’s not our place. Nothing good can come from returning evil for evil. Unforgiveness and a vengeful spirit hurt us more than it does the offender. Revenge has a way of taking control of our thoughts and robbing us of the peace and blessings God wants to give us. We need to let go and let God take care of things. It is a matter of faith that God will do what he said he would and he doesn’t need our help.
Deuteronomy 32:35 “To me belongeth vengeance, and recompense; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.”
This is the only way we should deal with those who have wronged us. It’s the way to blessings, peace, and comfort. It is acknowledging that God is in complete control and that you trust Him.
Excellent
Very good Jane!
Thank you !