REVENGE

What do we do when we get offended? It has often been said that “REVENGE IS SWEET.” It is but natural for us to feel indignation when we have been offended. Our inborn sense of right and wrong commands that an injustice be corrected. The question is, how?



Being slapped, verbally abused, physically assaulted, pushed, and so on are varied degrees of offense. How do you feel when you experience a personal offense of one kind or another? Today, people’s natural reaction seems to be, “I’ll make them pay for what they did!”

In the workforce, an increasing number of ungratified employees seek revenge against their employers by damaging or deleting important information on the company’s computer network. In schools in the United States, a number of junior high school students have filed false charges of abuse to get revenge on teachers who disciplined them. Brenda Mitchell, president of the Teacher’s Union in New Orleans said, “What happens is that once the accusation is made, the teacher’s reputation is tarnished.” Even after the accusation has been proved false, the damage can linger. The consequences of the avenger’s actions will only lead to heartaches or to more people drawn into the conflict.

What happens after the revenge? It would only result to a cycle of pain. Focusing one’s mind and energy on punishing someone who has wronged us is destructive especially to ourselves. The bible says, “jealousy is rottenness to the bones.” Proverbs 14:30. Indeed, how can a person be joyful if hatred and destructive feelings are bottled up inside of him? “If revenge is sweet”, says one commentator, “look into the faces of those who have lived on it for years.”

Then what is the best way to do if someone wronged us? Paul said, “Keep conquering evil with the good,” he doesn’t mean that a Christian should be obsessed with being a martyr. On the contrary, we have every right to defend ourselves. We can turn to some authorities. It may be at school or at work. –Romans 13:3,4.

We can take the example of Jesus Christ, who suffered for us, leaving us a model to follow. Jesus was spit upon, persecuted by his enemies, betrayed by his close associate, and even abandoned by his own followers. (Matthew 26:48-50;27:27-31) Yet he did not go reviling in return when he was reviled, according to Paul.

By leaving matters to Jehovah’s hands, we free ourselves from much pain, hatred, rage and violence. –Proverbs 3:3-6.