“Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you – for you know in your heart that many times you have cursed others.” ~ Ecclesiastes, 7:21-22
By now, most have either seen the video on social media or read about it in the news. Back on Sunday evening during the annual Academy Awards presentation, a famous actor – who was once liked and admired by both his peers and avid movie goers – completely lost his composure and physically assaulted another celebrity. On live television no less!
On Monday morning, the incident that happened the night before was plastered on the front page of every newspaper in America, the leading topic of every morning news and talk show.
Everyone had an opinion, but few sided with the confrontational actor. The joke that the host celebrity shared with the audience in attendance that evening happened to pertain to the actor’s wife who was by his side, and most agree that given her medical condition – perhaps the host’s attempt at humor was in poor taste. But what specifically made the joke so hurtful and egregious that it would cause such an unthinkable, unconscionable reaction?
Within that moment that played out on televisions all across the world Sunday evening we are reminded of the harm we ultimately inflict on ourselves when we react without thinking. We are also reminded that this is merely a product of the irrational and reactionary world we live in today, with all its bitterness and self-righteous zeal proudly on display.
Friend, this is not how God expects us to react and behave when we don’t appreciate what someone else may say or do to us. Quite the contrary.
The Apostle Paul makes it abundantly clear how we are to react to these moments of anger. Do not repay evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12: 17-19)
In other words, God is saying this: “Do not give in to sin. Give the anger you hold against your brother over to Me and let Me deal with him. You are not the judge, I AM. You are unqualified to render justice, but My justice is perfect.”
You see, as individuals we lack the ability to render fair justice. If it were ultimately left to us, we would destroy the lives of others over the most insignificant of offenses.
So… when we become offended, we have two choices. We can either forgive the offender and pray for God to rebuke and restore him, or we can disobey God and take matters into our own hands. While the world desires to create enemies, our Creator designed us to love everyone we come in contact with and forgive them when they hurt us.
Not only is His Grace sufficient, but so too is His Justice.
Former Blackout Artist 