Levels of living

Psa 7:4  If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy).

David denied that he had wantonly attacked and injured any one with whom he was on friendly and peaceable terms. He said he would never do such a thing. Instead, he said he had even delivered his enemy whom he had a chance to destroy. And this, we know he did twice. Twice he had spared Saul's life; once in the cave of Adullam, and again when he found him sleeping in the midst of his slumbering camp; he could, therefore, with a clear conscience, made his appeal to heaven (1 Sam 24:4-17). God knew he would never return evil for evil. And God also knew he had returned evil with good. Therefore, his conscience was clear.

David had been scrupulously careful to avoid any appearance of rebellion against Saul. He was quite aware that there were flatterers at Saul’s court who were continually inflaming the King’s mind by their false accusations against him saying David was going to harm the king (1 Sam 24:9). King Saul believed those false accusations against David and had pursued him to kill him. But David would not lay his hands on Saul even when his own men bid him to do it (1 Sam 24:4).

There are three levels of living:
1.  To return evil for good. That is devilish.
2.  To return evil for evil. That is human.
3.  To return good for evil. That is divine.

Christians are not to return evil for evil. But sometimes our minds tell us we need to get even. And if we do that, we are no different from a gangster. The uniqueness of Christianity stands out boldly in the way we treat our enemies. Our Lord’s teaching is: “Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matt 5:39). He teaches us to love our enemies (Matt 5:44). The gangster way is: “If you strike me on the face, I’ll hit you so hard your head will fall off.”

A lady went to the doctor. After examining her, the doctor said, “I hate to tell you this, but you have rabies.” She got out a notebook and started to make out a list. The doctor asked, “What are you doing? Making out your will?” “No,” she answered, “I’m making a list of people I’m going to bite.”

Even in the church, the vigilante spirit is alive and well. Christians sometimes attempt to sanctify their anger calling it righteous indignation; it is self-deceiving. We too are tempted to retaliate against those who mistreat us. Yes, a brother is not behaving as a Christian towards his brethren in the church. He has been nasty and calling names on those who are serving faithfully. What is your reaction towards him? You are angry with him. You are hostile towards him. Indeed, that brother is wrong to mistreat his Christian brethren. But, you are also wrong to hate him.

The Christ-like way is to overcome evil with good. It is to win hatred with love. “An eye for an eye makes the world blind.” Christ did not return evil with evil: “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (1 Pet 2:23).

Christ entrusts Himself to God whom He knows will judge righteously. Paul concurred and he wrote: “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Rom 12:19). Vengeance belongs to God who will judge all men on the last day. God wants us to suffer wrong rather than do wrong.

Do you overcome evil with good? Christ teaches us to let love conquer evil. There is no peace to one who returns evil for evil. But love will end all feuds and quarrelling. Love is the greatest. David let love does the talking for him. Saul was convinced that his son-in-law meant him no harm. “He said to David, "You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil” (1 Sam 24:17).

Love is the answer to all of life’s relationship problems. Let love abides in our lives.

Jimmy Lau
Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.