You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those persecute you. --Matthew 5:43-44
Before his days as president, Abraham Lincoln was an attorney. He was approached once by a middle-class man who passionately insisted on suing an impoverished man who owed him $2.50. Lincoln quickly recognized the ridiculous nature of the situation and tried to discourage him. But the man was set on revenge and wanted to make his debtor pay.
Finally, when Lincoln realized that the man would stop at nothing to punish the other, he reluctantly agreed to take the case. When he did, he asked the man for a legal fee of $10, which the man immediately paid. Soon thereafter, Lincoln secretly gave half the money to the defendant, who willingly confessed the debt and paid the $2.50 in full!
Even more amazing than Lincoln’s ingenious settlement was that the vengeful plaintiff was satisfied with the arrangement and walked away a very happy man!
Very often, when someone wrongs us, it’s natural to want to seek revenge. In fact, the world encourages us to feel this way! But God’s way is drastically different.
Had the irate man reacted like Christ, he wouldn’t have worried about the debt, but he probably would have bought the poor defendant a meal or helped out his starving family! God’s way of dealing with an enemy is completely different from the idea of “don’t get mad — get even.”
Today, if someone does you wrong, try to consider their situation… ask God to help you forgive them…and seek ways that you can minister to them. You never know how God will use your reaction to touch their life for Christ
