The Tree of Revenge vs. The Tree of Forgiveness
Despite the flood of emotions that arise in my soul when I am abused, accused, or otherwise misused, I have learned that waiting on God’s vindication will serve me better than any feeble attempt I can make to even the score. God sees everything. That’s why I have adopted a view attributed to Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, “The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury.”
When we try to avenge ourselves—when we try to punish someone who injured us physically, emotionally, or financially—we are telling God we don’t trust Him. More than that, we are playing God. We are tying the hands of a just God who wants to make the wrong things right in our lives. We are walking into the enemy’s self-vindication trap. And we are risking becoming bitter instead of better.
Taking vengeance on your enemies may feel gratifying and satisfying in the heat of the moment. But that feeling is fleeting as it gives way to Holy Spirit conviction. If you avenge yourself, you forfeit God’s vindication. And believe me, God’s vindication is far better than anything you can gain by striving to prove your enemies wrong or securing carnal payback for the injustice you suffered. God’s vindication is worth waiting for.
The late pastor Ray Stedman once pointed to Job as an example of a self-vindicator. Self-vindication, he said, explains the silence of God. “Why does God not help this man? The answer is because he has not yet come to the place where he is willing to listen. As long as a man is defending himself, God will not defend him,” Stedman wrote. “There is a theme that runs all through the Bible from beginning to end that says, ‘As long as you justify yourself, God will never justify you.’ And as long as Job thinks he has some righteous ground on which to stand, God’s silence remains. This is true in our lives as well.”
When you leave vengeance to God—if you are willing to wait on Him—you will find blessings. It’s not always easy, but stand on this promise: “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you” (Isa. 35:4).
When we choose to forgive the person who harmed us, we become more like Christ, “who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Pet. 2:23). When we refuse to play God, we give Him free rein to work all things for our good.
It’s been said that living well is the best revenge. It’s difficult to live well—or to do much else for God—when we are wasting precious time plotting and planning to return evil for evil. Peter warned: “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult…[but] with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing” (1 Pet. 3:9, NIV). And Jesus said to love and pray for your enemies. (See Matthew 5:44.)
When you leave the vengeance to God, you will see healing and restoration in your life. An old Dutch proverb says, “The tree of revenge does not carry fruit.” I disagree. I believe the tree of revenge carries rotten fruit. But the tree of forgiveness yields the fruit of emotional healing. English philosopher, statesman, scientist, lawyer, jurist, author, and pioneer Francis Bacon put it this way, “A man that studies revenge, keeps his own wounds green, which otherwise would heal, and do well.” Your emotional well-being is connected to forgiveness, and so is God’s justice.
To learn more about Jennifer LeClaire’s latest book, Vindicated, visit MyCharismaShop.com