Overcoming Evil by Doing Good
It is that time of year when many of us may be considering a resolution for the New Year. I would like to offer the following practice for your consideration in that regard: overcoming evil by doing good.
Most of us probably have relationships in which we have nursed grudges. In some cases, the hurt has gone both ways. They’ve hurt us; we’ve hurt them too. How easy it is to become childish, quarreling back and forth: “You started it!” “No, I didn’t... you did!”
In some cases, especially where the hurt has been one-sided, I know that it just doesn’t seem fair to forgive and let it go! But, I don’t see any exception to the call to forgive in the prayer our Lord Jesus taught his followers to pray. Not only that, the Word of God instructs us to do good with everyone... even with those who have deeply wronged us!
The apostle Paul offers this counsel to the believers in Rome, “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.‘ To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil by doing Good” (Romans 12:17-21).
In the heat of the moment, this may seem quite beyond us, but it is not impossible or we wouldn’t be asked to do it. We have not been called to keep the peace (as if there were any to be kept); we have been called to do all that we can to accept the peace our Lord gives to us[1] and bring that peace to bear wherever we are.
We are not required to tell others they don’t deserve punishment, but rather to relinquish that job to the Lord. We are not being asked to give up a quarrel because someone else is necessarily right, but rather to make room for God’s solution, which works for the good of all who love Him. We cannot change other people, but we can ask God for the courage to steadfastly manifest the character of Him who is able to change all who come to Him.
From the perspective of the world’s way, which dreams of revenge, all of this seems entirely absurd. But, “how unsearchable are God’s judgments and how inscrutable are His ways!” (Romans 11:33) “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 16:25)
I am convinced of this, as we fully surrender our will and our lives to God, we will, in due time, come to see that His ways will perfectly overcome evil in just the right way at just the right time.
[1] John 14:27
