Pay-Backs

I recently read a story about a person who was in a fast-food drive-through line. There was someone in the car behind who kept honking their horn, mouthing that the first person was taking too long to place their order. When the first person got to the pay window, they paid for theirs and the person in line behind them. 

The cashier must have told the second person what happened, because the second person leaned out their window, waved, and mouthed "Thank you", obviously embarrassed that their rudeness had been repaid with kindness. When the first person got to the pickup window, they showed both receipts and took both orders of food. The second person then had to go back to the end of the line and start all over again. Be careful who you blow your horn at!
The first person got even, right? That person probably got a sense of satisfaction with their payback action. Maybe some guilt too. We probably have similar stories of times we “got back” at someone or they, us. Revenge might feel like a natural response when someone wrongs us. It promises justice, or at least a sense of satisfaction. However, the pursuit of revenge often leads to more harm than good, both spiritually and personally. Whether in the pages of the Bible or in our everyday lives, the consequences of seeking revenge can be destructive.

Throughout the Bible, we read accounts that suggest a different response:

• In the Old Testament, David had the opportunity to kill King Saul, but he didn’t. By choosing not to seek revenge, David spared himself the burden of bitterness and allowed God’s will to unfold (1 Samuel 24:1-7).
• In the New Testament, Jesus tells us to “turn the other cheek,” meaning payback is not necessarily the right approach (Matthew 5:39). Sometimes, a kind response is better.
• We read in Romans 12:19 that we should not seek revenge but trust God to work everything out, rather than taking matters into our own hands.

Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life but was falsely accused and sentenced to death. He could have miraculously intervened to stop it, but that was God’s plan all along. Jesus didn’t exact revenge. Rather, through His life, death and resurrection, He responded with the gift of eternal life and restored relationship with God. It is the ultimate “payback”!

In everyday life, seeking revenge often leads to a cycle of conflict. For example, if someone gossips about you, responding in kind with rumors of your own may feel like justice. However, this only escalates tension and leaves both parties wounded, creating an ongoing cycle of negativity. Even more harmful, it can prevent healing and reconciliation, and wouldn’t that be the better goal?

Ultimately, revenge destroys relationships, feeds anger, and robs us of peace. The Bible and real-life examples remind us that letting go of the desire for revenge opens the door to healing, forgiveness, restored relationship, and ultimately, a sense of freedom.

4832 Ponderings:

• How are you doing with choosing kindness rather than revenge?
• Is there angry tension between you and another person that you need to let go of, or have a conversation about?

Closing Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, sometimes I am quick to anger and slow to forgive. I pray that You would guide me through the power of the Holy Spirit to make good decisions that reflect Your love for all people. In Jesus’ name. Amen.