Proverbs 24:17-18 Wise Words #28
Jesus said, “Love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). This is a FAR cry from rejoicing over their troubles! Empathy and love go a long way.
You are going to bump up against people who are NOT your friends. You will have enemies; even Jesus did. If you are breathing and not so isolated that you have NEVER ventured into the world in ANY way, you will have those who don’t like you and may even be considered your enemy.
This ‘enemy’ is not your ultimate foe; Satan is. Jesus calls us to pray for the person whom Satan is using to make our lives uncomfortable/miserable. And to LOVE them! When you “love” someone, you are always hoping for the best for them. Even when that “best” is a hard knock on the head to get their attention.
When I think about our reading and what it means to our lives today, a couple of things come to mind. First, is the competition involved in games or sports. One team/person winning and another losing is an integral part of the process. But HOW one wins or loses is what matters most and has the longest consequence. Everyone remembers a poor loser. They throw fits, call for a ‘do-over’, refuse to accept the outcome, claim there must be cheating involved, and may even try and sabotage the winner’s victory. A poor winner is just as memorable. They gloat, parade around those who lost, relive their ‘glory’ as often as possible and won’t let ANYONE forget who it was that ‘came out on top’. BOTH of these individuals spoil the game for others.
I heard a story about the origin of two opposing teams meeting to shake hands at the end of the game but I can’t find it. The story had to do with a very angry losing team that was also a gloating team when they won. The coach was angry at both behaviors and told his team that, win or lose, they were to thank the other team for the game by shaking hands. This became a custom in most sports arenas.
In my google search for this story I came across an explanation of how the handshake first evolved. It was traced to the middle-ages when opponents would show their empty hands to one another to show they had no ill intent or hidden weapon. This evolved into our modern day custom of shaking hands as a sign of respect. And when someone refuses to shake your hand, it is an obvious sign of disrespect, unless an explanation and alternate greeting goes along with the refusal.
The second thing that came to mind is the story of Jonah. Jonah didn’t want to go to Nineveh when God told him to go. Not because he was afraid of the people or expected a bad outcome. It was because he truly believed that the people would repent and God would spare them. Jonah did NOT like the people of Nineveh and was more than happy to let them fall to God’s wrath. He didn’t want God showing them grace. When God left Jonah no choice but to obey, exactly what he expected occurred. The people listened and repented, causing God to give them grace.
Instead of being happy for the people’s reprieve, Jonah was angry and sullen. He probably would have been cheering if Nineveh had been destroyed. Since it wasn’t, he went out and sulked. God even allowed him a season of pouting. But then He told Jonah to get up and get over it. It was ‘no skin off Jonah’s nose’ that God had given Nineveh a second chance. He is God and Jonah was NOT.
The last thing that came to my mind involved my two oldest grandchildren and their other grandmother. To make a LONG story short, she was the bane of our existence for three years with legal battles. There were several times I thought about giving her a recent picture of the boys, but just as I was about to make that move, she do something else to cause more trouble. When she lost the ‘war’ it could have been a time for me to celebrate her downfall, but I didn’t. Instead, I felt for her. I recognized the loss she would now suffer for the foreseeable future. She died never having seen our grandsons again. It was a just result of her own actions but it brought me no joy. I was pleased that we didn’t have to always be waiting for her next trick though. Even her daughter, who cut all ties with her, mourned her death. What could have been, if only…
God wants us to have compassion on even our enemies. He calls for us to pray for them. I believe He wants us to imagine being in their place and really imagine what that might look like. Would you have your enemy do the same for you? Would you want them to understand what the conflict cost you? Would you hold onto hope of a restored relationship some day?
We may be completely justified in asking God to rain down judgment on those who have made themselves our enemies, but we are NOT to “rejoice” at their fall. Be gracious. It costs you nothing and it is quite possibly the testimony you will forever be leaving them with.
Father God, thank You for showing me concrete examples of Your principles. Thank You for making my heart tender towards others; even those who are not ‘nice’ to me. Help me remember to lift up my “enemies” to You. Help me pray YOUR will for their lives. And when that “will” doesn’t look like what I thing they deserve; help me accept and understand You decision. Help me to ALWAYS see at least some good in everyone I encounter in this life.
