Why Should We Refrain from Revenge
By Marja
@buenavida (9985)
Sweden
October 15, 2012 7:31pm CST
Yes, why should we, if we follow the Bible refrain from revenge?
We know that the world is full of wars and many have been mistreated by authorities or others. The world is full of injustice.
The apostle Paul wrote how we should react if someone hurts us in:
[i]
"17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, [b]as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
[/b]
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."[/i] Romans 12 (King James Version)
But what if those who say that they respect the Bible and love God still hurts us in some way?? We kind of expect more from those people, don't we?
Would it be right to talk with someone else about how that person has hurt us. Should we tell our best friend?
Wouldn't doing so be a kind of revenge? And what if that person hurt us without meaning to do it?
One thing we can do is to just ignore the thing and think that it might be unintentional. Or if it bothers us, we could try to talk with the person.
[i]
"15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother."[/i] Matthew 18 (King James Version)
Jesus talked about more steps we can take if this doesn't help. You can read the following verses and see for yourself.
But do we see the wisdom here? What would happen if we revenge and start talking to our friends about it? Could we call ourselves peacemakers, if we did?
What would you do?
4 people like this
8 responses
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
16 Oct 12
Allowing revenge to happen would mean endless fights with one another. Definitely, peace among the people can never be achieved. If one bows down and voice out what they want to be understood, then I think we can have a peaceful society.
2 people like this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
17 Oct 12
At least we can contribute to peace as far as we can. If we keep fighting, as you say, it would never end as long as it depends on humans.
The only one who can bring peace to earth, is our Creator..
@STOUTjodee (3572)
• United States
16 Oct 12
I believe in karma, what goes around comes around. That being said, I try to be nice to everyone and if someone does me wrong I don't go for revenge, I believe that God is watching over that person and they will get what is coming to them in the end.
2 people like this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
17 Oct 12
Yes, let us leave it to God - he will judge and God can see the good in everyone and make it grow if the person is humble enough. 
@ajithlal (14716)
• India
16 Oct 12
I think most times when we forgive others we will get peace in our mind. When we do not forgive others and look for revenge we will be feeling tired and also feeling restless in our minds. After revenge most times, we will be feeling guilty or feeling hurt. When we forgive others we will have a peaceful and happy life. I think most times we should try to make ourselves happy and also others happy. I believe that God should always judge us in our lives and not us.
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
17 Oct 12
You are right, if we want to be happy, let's try to forgive and have peace of mind.
We can ask God's help to do so. He will appreciate our willingness to follow his guidance in our lives..
@dainy1313 (2370)
• Leon, Mexico
16 Oct 12
Hello buenavida! Thanks you for recalling this lovely verses. They are lovely
.
When I began reading the Bible I had peace in my heart. But in the practice, in my ministry, it has turned very difficult to have peace. Because I feel deeply hurt by companions. Not just being hurt one, nor two, or three, there has been at least 15 years. I try to forgive them always, but there had been so many times that now I`m feeling really frustrated and hurt, I feel inner pain. Deep pain, I`ve been silent for so many times, that I don´t know already why I`m so hurt. I don´t remember as an ABC why I`ve cried more than one time, or two or three, I forget. So I remain silent at my home. I don´t want to see them more as I used to do at the beginnings. With love and happiness, in stead of that I prefer remain silent. Without exposing me to more pain. Once I talked to the leader, but it seemed every effort was in vain.
So I think that reading your discussion makes me remember the hope, the love and the peace that we should have in our heart, and I know that is better remaining in silent that arguing in vain with them.
I just remember that Jesus was silent and asked pardon and mercy for the people who crucified him. Our Lord refrained for revenge. I must refrain too.
Mary has been always the silent mother. She was brave, and had mercy for those people who mocked about the angel Annunciation and her Holy Motherhood. Mary refrained for revenge. I mus refrain too.
What do you think?
Blessings buenavida... dainy
buenavida! Thanks you for recalling this lovely verses. They are lovely.
When I began reading the Bible I had peace in my heart. But in the practice, in my ministry, it has turned very difficult to have peace. Because I feel deeply hurt by companions. Not just being hurt one, nor two, or three, there has been at least 15 years. I try to forgive them always, but there had been so many times that now I`m feeling really frustrated and hurt, I feel inner pain. Deep pain, I`ve been silent for so many times, that I don´t know already why I`m so hurt. I don´t remember as an ABC why I`ve cried more than one time, or two or three, I forget. So I remain silent at my home. I don´t want to see them more as I used to do at the beginnings. With love and happiness, in stead of that I prefer remain silent. Without exposing me to more pain. Once I talked to the leader, but it seemed every effort was in vain.
So I think that reading your discussion makes me remember the hope, the love and the peace that we should have in our heart, and I know that is better remaining in silent that arguing in vain with them.
I just remember that Jesus was silent and asked pardon and mercy for the people who crucified him. Our Lord refrained for revenge. I must refrain too.
Mary has been always the silent mother. She was brave, and had mercy for those people who mocked about the angel Annunciation and her Holy Motherhood. Mary refrained for revenge. I mus refrain too.
What do you think?
Blessings buenavida... dainy
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
17 Oct 12
Yes, dainy We can learn to accept that everyone can't be friendly and find good friends whom we can trust. We can pray that God sends us some who follow the Bible principles in their life.
Mary was a very humble person, and loved God and obeyed him. Maybe that was why God chose her to give birth to Jesus. Her ancestors were humble too. Thinking of Rahab and Ruth. Both were non Israelites, but they loved the Almighty God very much.
Have a great day..
We can learn to accept that everyone can't be friendly and find good friends whom we can trust. We can pray that God sends us some who follow the Bible principles in their life.
Mary was a very humble person, and loved God and obeyed him. Maybe that was why God chose her to give birth to Jesus. Her ancestors were humble too. Thinking of Rahab and Ruth. Both were non Israelites, but they loved the Almighty God very much.
Have a great day..@dainy1313 (2370)
• Leon, Mexico
16 Oct 12
How sweet it is to live like this, with God in the heart. What sublime peace to find oneself filled with God!... What little trouble it is; rather it should be said, there is no trouble in doing what He wishes, since we love His will, and even pain and suffering are His peace, since we suffer for love. Only God fills the soul, and fills it wholly. Let scientists go on asking: Where is God? He is where those clever ones, arrogant in their knowledge, cannot reach.
Blessings buenavida... dainy
buenavida... dainy1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
18 Oct 12
Most things that God asks us to do are difficult at first, until we see the benefits of doing things God's way. God knows what is best for us long-term. He knows what will work well for us.
The verses that you quote from Romans 12 are guidelines that bring rich dividends. It is always best to listen to God and obey.
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
18 Oct 12
Absolutely, thank you both! The great thing is that God can see the good in us and make it grow if we are willing to let Him do it. Even people who do wrong things, can change, so we can keep hoping they do.
I had a 5 minute's talk in a school program about this and I am grateful to everyone answering this discussion, as it helped me to do this talk a couple of days ago.
The great thing is that God can see the good in us and make it grow if we are willing to let Him do it. Even people who do wrong things, can change, so we can keep hoping they do.
I had a 5 minute's talk in a school program about this and I am grateful to everyone answering this discussion, as it helped me to do this talk a couple of days ago.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
17 Oct 12
I have seen far too many times to deny that a person doesn't have to take one bit of action for things to come around. The thing is that, even if we never see it or know it, everyone gets what they give.
I am not vengeful but I am not one to lay myself out there for it either. I sometimes wonder if I were vengeful if I wouldn't have something come back around for me. Yes..I think that these things are taken care of for us.
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
18 Oct 12
We always get a lot of benefits when we follow the wise words of our Creator. He knows exactly how we function and He can see if we are sincere and can bless us when we try to do what is right.
Yes, we only hurt ourselves if we try to revenge.. God will take care of the whole earth and see that justce is done in the end.
@sjvenden27 (1840)
• United States
16 Oct 12
When I was younger if someone hurt me; all I wanted to do was to hurt them back... That was a long time ago, now if someone does something to me instead of wanting revenge I pray.. I give my problem to the Lord.. I pray for forgiveness for those who have hurt me.. But I do pray that they learn their lesson through the Lord.. Basically I do not seek out vengeance on others.. I may forgive but it takes a while if ever to forget.. I understand that is also in the bible.. But I look at it differently not as something festing within my soul but a lesson of what not to do or what to look out for in the future if something else similar occurs...
I have a circle of friends that I can talk to if I need extra support.. Vice versa... There's an animalistic reflex that makes it hard for us to overcome it.. It can be done just takes alot of faith and patience... There have been quite a few things that I have been able to walk away from and just hand my problem over to the Lord... My faith is strong...
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
17 Oct 12
Yes, it is amazing, we learn as long as we live. Maybe our experience helps us to understand each other better, even those we feel are not very kind - they may have some problem we don't know of.
Sometimes people say things and don't mean to be unkind, even if it sounds like they are.
We can only pray for them and hope they learn..
@averygirl72 (37726)
• Philippines
16 Oct 12
I like this discussion. I am afraid to do revenge but sometimes I am tempted to do it but it is never my practice. I really trust the Lord to bring the justice if ever I have been treated unfairly or for me I think I need justice for being a victim of evildoers.
When I see kids fight each other and the one wants to revenge sometimes to make them even or equal I let the other party punch his enemy so no they both get the justice they want.
I am afraid of the justice of the Lord sometimes in my mind I can curse a person or quietly say disgusting things out of my anger but then I cannot really plan for a revenge. The bible warns us that God is our supreme judge so we just let God take control of our situation.
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
17 Oct 12
I think we have to learn to be like children to our Father and always trust him that he will correct everything and clean up this world from evil, just as he has promised to do. (see Psalm 37)
We all do or think wrong things and thoughts but the most important is that we try and ask God for help so that we can leave things to him. I am sure he appreciates our efforts to do his will as much as we can.
