Free AI web copilot to create summaries, insights and extended knowledge, download it at here

Abstract

ell, you aren’t seeking revenge. You release your anger and pain, you take the proverbial high road, and you pray for the person who harmed you.</p><p id="12ab">Depending on the degree to which you were injured, you may have to go through this process of rejecting the desire for revenge over and over — and that’s okay. It gets a little easier each time you do it.</p><p id="31fb">The best revenge is no revenge. The best revenge is found in forgiveness, in letting go and trusting God to be the perfect judge that He is.</p><p id="ecbb" type="7">Dear God,</p><p id="25c8" type="7">It is easy to respond to sin with sin, to seek revenge for a wrong done to us. Thank You for the strength to resist the temptation of revenge.</p><p id="9787" type="7">Amen</p><p id="afbe">Thank you for reading this excerpt from my book <a href="http://wordstoworkby.com/"><i>Words to Work By: 31 devotions for the workplace based on the Book of Proverbs</i></a>.</p><p id="90ca">You might also enjoy:</p><div id="b84e" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/i-wish-we-could-talk-54ef66be2f36"> <div> <div> <h2>I Wish We Could Talk</h2> <div><h3>I miss what life was like before a difference of opinion meant division rather than discussion.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*HyqUvPx4cA6t6WhuMRx88A.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="db5f" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/turn-it-on-how-to-be-the-light-cc3e42debc78"> <div> <div>

Options

<h2>Turn It On: How to Be the Light</h2> <div><h3>Four action steps to achieve excellence</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*_VtDbco5KhYCR5sozVEP0A.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="6dda">Here’s a little more about me:</p><div id="439d" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/i-couldnt-be-an-elephant-so-i-became-a-writer-d54048740b51"> <div> <div> <h2>I Couldn’t be an Elephant, so I Became a Writer</h2> <div><h3>When you love what you do, it’s still work — but it’s awesome work!</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*sY4FpBF5g1dnlvg2zITdbw.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="8c83">I’d love to connect with you!</p><figure id="ea2c"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*AbEexoQxUV2vVk2C.jpeg"><figcaption>Photos by Jerry D. Clement; text added by Jacquelyn Lynn</figcaption></figure><p id="a7a4">May I send a brief inspirational message every Saturday morning? Visit <a href="https://createteachinspire.com/saturday"><b>CreateTeachInspire.com/saturday</b></a> to receive messages like the ones above.</p><figure id="4332"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*b-N7OvtSD1vuULvYFOJ0Og.jpeg"><figcaption>Encouraging, empowering, and entertaining. In Christ.</figcaption></figure></article></body>

Is Living Well Really the Best Revenge?

Here’s why it’s not

Image created by Jacquelyn Lynn using MockupShots.

Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you. (Proverbs 20:22, NIV)

It’s been said that living well is the best revenge — and maybe it is. But someone with a vengeful heart and mind can’t live well because they haven’t been able to let go of the hurt and bitterness that is slowly poisoning them.

The desire for retribution is a human response to what psychologists call a narcissistic injury, essentially a wounded ego. Taking revenge is little more than responding to evil with evil. While there might be times when it is appropriate to fight fire with fire (especially in the case of an actual fire), we should never respond to evil with evil. Instead, we should respond to evil with good — deep, genuine love and kindness (see Romans 12:21).

If someone speaks badly about you behind your back, praise them publicly.

If someone is cool and distant to you, be warm and friendly to them.

If someone hurts you, do something designed to make them feel good.

Do you see the pattern here? Revenge comes at a price and rarely brings the expected results. You think getting revenge will make you feel better, but it doesn’t. Revenge is the hurtful side of reciprocity. It’s primitive and destructive.

So, is living well really the best revenge? Perhaps, but if you are truly living well, you aren’t seeking revenge. You release your anger and pain, you take the proverbial high road, and you pray for the person who harmed you.

Depending on the degree to which you were injured, you may have to go through this process of rejecting the desire for revenge over and over — and that’s okay. It gets a little easier each time you do it.

The best revenge is no revenge. The best revenge is found in forgiveness, in letting go and trusting God to be the perfect judge that He is.

Dear God,

It is easy to respond to sin with sin, to seek revenge for a wrong done to us. Thank You for the strength to resist the temptation of revenge.

Amen

Thank you for reading this excerpt from my book Words to Work By: 31 devotions for the workplace based on the Book of Proverbs.

I Wish We Could Talk

I miss what life was like before a difference of opinion meant division rather than discussion.

medium.com

Turn It On: How to Be the Light

Four action steps to achieve excellence

medium.com

Here’s a little more about me:

I Couldn’t be an Elephant, so I Became a Writer

When you love what you do, it’s still work — but it’s awesome work!

medium.com

I’d love to connect with you!

Photos by Jerry D. Clement; text added by Jacquelyn Lynn

May I send a brief inspirational message every Saturday morning? Visit CreateTeachInspire.com/saturday to receive messages like the ones above.

Encouraging, empowering, and entertaining. In Christ.