Is Revenge Okay?
Revenge seems natural after being betrayed, maliciously attacked, or outcast because it hurts. When you are conscientiously trying to be a good person and do the right thing, you’re blindsided by this treatment. It’s easy to let anger replace the initial shock and pain. Anger often turns to thoughts of making the attacker pay for their crime, or in short, revenge.
Naturally, everyone wants justice. Oftentimes, the person with the authority to grant it either chooses to ignore your mistreatment, or they’re the cause. In these situations, justice is unlikely. In these situations, if you attempt to get justice, you may actually be the one punished – again. People should pay for their actions when they hurt someone, especially if they hurt people intentionally. So, if no one cares or believes you, is it okay to get revenge? God says, “No.”
Scripture is clear that God will avenge us. “Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly” (Deuteronomy 32:35, ESV). It’s important to note that your vindication may not occur for a long time. Don’t think God has forgotten you. We just have to trust it is on his agenda and will be dealt with at the right time, meaning, his time.
The Best Defender
Waiting is hard, but God is the best defender you could possibly get. It’s especially difficult to wait for God’s vengeance if your character and/or professional reputation have been blemished or destroyed. Waiting also proves difficult when the damage has cost you dearly either monetarily or personally.
When rebuilding yourself, you have the opportunity to prove your attacker wrong through your actions. Harsh words against the other party will mean very little and may even make people believe you are being vengeful out of guilt. Actions definitely speak louder than words. Not speaking against the other person gives you dignity. Think about political smear ads. They’re annoying and may turn you against the best candidate.
Revenge’s Best Judge and Sentencer
Sometimes, the hurt we endure is due to a misunderstanding. The person who hurt us may not have meant to, or they may have inaccurate information. This does not excuse the poor treatment, but God is usually the only one with all the correct information. This makes God the best judge of the situation and the best one to sentence the attacker.
The more we do the right thing, the more evidence persecutors build against themselves. This was the case in 1 Samuel 25:1-42. Nabal, a wealthy yet wicked man, refused to help David and his men in the desert after they had looked after his livestock. After Nabal’s wife, Abigail, provided food for David and his men, she told her husband what she had done. Upon hearing this, Nabal had a heart attack and died 10 days later. David then took Abigail to be his wife.
God avenged Joseph after his jealous brothers sold him and told their father he was killed by a wild animal. Talk about sibling rivalry! Joseph suffered but ended up being second only to Pharoah in all of Egypt. His brothers ended up asking Joseph for food during a famine. Joseph could easily have taken revenge on his brothers and let them starve or had them imprisoned, but he didn’t. In this situation, God reconciled Joseph with his brothers (Genesis 37:1-50:26). God knows best.
Be An Example
Jesus gave us the absolute best example for righteous living. We may not be perfect like He is, but we can strive. Contrary to popular opinion, turning the other cheek does not make you weak. Striking back at someone who intentionally harmed you is a natural and human instinct. Holding back takes resolve.
Scripture tells us to do what is honorable for everyone to see. “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with 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”” (Romans 12:17-19, ESV). Scripture goes on to tell us to live peacefully without getting revenge because God will do that for us.
God, our defender, further instructs us to repay the wrong done to us with goodness. “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 with good” (Romans 12:20-21, ESV). Rather than fighting fire with more fire, the Bible says to douse the flames with water, holy water maybe.
Our sins are forgiven because of Jesus’ sacrifice. We don’t deserve it. Forgiving those who don’t deserve our forgiveness is following Jesus’ example and showing our persecutors a better way. What people do with those Christian examples is up to them. Everyone is responsible for their own actions.
Lighten Your Burden
Forgiving and putting the offense out of your mind frees you to be happy and concentrate on things that benefit you. When you are focused on doing the right thing, you don’t have need or desire to waste time worrying about what someone else is doing. Feeling the need for revenge is a heavy burden.
Not worrying about what other people are doing is obviously easier said than done. If someone is actively attacking you, it’s in the forefront of your mind. But if we pray for our enemies as we’re told, we can trust God to do what he says he will. “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9, ESV). When we bless our enemies, God will bless us.
Perhaps studying what God tells us to do in the face of adversity and looking forward to the blessing is a better use of our time. That way, we can leave all that revenge stuff to the One who does it best.
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