They Deserved It!

May 30, 2023

Don’t laugh when your enemy falls; don’t gloat over his collapse. God might see, and become very provoked, and then take pity on his plight.

- Psalm 24:17-18 (The Message)

Do you ever find yourself thinking “Well they deserved it!” when someone who has hurt you gets hurt?

Before you say “no,” think about it. I was meeting with someone recently and this came up in our discussion. Someone who had deeply hurt them was “finally” hurt by another. It was about time. As it was described to me, I thought, “Wait a minute? Have I wished bad things for someone who has hurt me?”

It can be easy to look at a person who seems to never get caught and find your blood pressure rising. Why? It’s not fair! And then something bad happens to them and the table turns! You can’t help but do the “happy dance”! It could be someone at work, a person who is no longer a friend, or a family member. Let’s look at what the Bible says about being happy because of someone else's misfortune.

You should not look down on your brother in the day of his misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast so much in the day of their trouble.

- Obadiah 1:13

But, rather, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:43-44). Before you challenge me and say they aren’t your enemy, you just don’t like them, remember that the Greatest Commandment tells us to love God and love people. Can you say you’re showing love to them? Ephesians 4:1-2 says:

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

- Ephesians 4:1-2

Love covers a multitude of sins, and I’m a sinner and so are you! Think about how the world would change, or even our little corner of it, if people felt the love of Jesus. We can’t do it on our own, we can only do it with his help. Romans 12:19-21:

Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

- Romans 12:19-21

Summer is just around the corner and it always seems that life has a lighter pace. There are barbecues and backyard pool parties.

Maybe it’s time to stop gloating in someone else's pain, do some soul searching and ask, “Who can I invite to come around my table and love them like Jesus would?”