| Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” … |
| —from Proverbs 20:22 |
An old adage insists:
“Don’t get mad, get even!”
It’s actually a horrible piece of advice. In dealing with others, we should neither get mad, nor get even. Instead, we should follow the way of the cross, that is, living our lives in the pathway forged by the footsteps of Jesus.
It’s interesting that the word “mad” can mean both angry and mentally ill. In some sense, when we lose control of our emotions and become angry, we do—at least momentarily—act as if mental illness has overcome us. That fact alone should help us steer clear from allowing ourselves to become angry with another person. King Solomon offered these words of advice, found in Proverbs 20:22:
Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
In every situation that we face, especially when we are mistreated by someone else, we should allow God room to deal with the situation in our behalf. God’s protection is worth more than any momentary satisfaction we may receive by getting angry about something. And certainly, getting even with someone who has harmed us is a sin that we should definitely avoid committing.
