Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. "BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.In these verses, we see Paul reveal for us a fourth aspect of a lifestyle of worship that followers of Jesus should practice in their lives. And that aspect is that followers of Jesus are to practice a lifestyle of worship that pleases God through our response toward the world. Paul commands followers of Jesus throughout history to never pay back evil for evil to anyone. In other words, followers of Jesus are not to respond to the harm or wrong that comes from the evil intentions of others by responding in like manner.
Instead, Paul commands followers of Jesus to respect what is right in the sight of all men. The word respect here means to give careful thought and consideration to something. Paul’s point here is that we are not to ignore evil; but we are not to respond to evil with evil. As followers of Jesus, we are to carefully consider our response to the harm and wrong that comes from the evil intentions of others by doing the noble and the right thing. In addition, as far as it is possible, as followers of Jesus, we are to strive to have harmonious relationships with others.
Unfortunately, the harsh reality is that there are times that no matter what we do, we are unable to experience harmonious relationships with others. As followers of Jesus, we are to do all that we can to live in harmony in community with everyone. And when that does not occur, we are to respond to evil, injustice and conflict by doing the noble and right thing. And we are to practice this lifestyle with all men. Notice Paul’s words in these verses: anyone, all men, all men. We practice a lifestyle of worship that pleases God when we respond to those around us who are far from God by doing all that we can to live in harmony in community with them, and then responding by doing the noble and the right thing when that does not occur.
Now a natural question and objection that arises here is “well what about justice? What about justice for those who do harm to me?” Paul, anticipating this question, responds by stating that as followers of Jesus, we are never to take justice into our own hands. Instead, we are to leave room for God’s right and just response to selfishness, sin, and rebellion. And to back his point, Paul quotes from a section of a letter that is recorded for us in our Bibles called the book of Proverbs. Beginning in Proverbs 25:21, we read that that kindness shown to an enemy will bring shame to him and perhaps lead to repentance. The writer of proverbs then paints a picture of this repentance by pointing the members of the church at Rome to an Egyptian ritual where a guilty person carried a pan of burning coals on his head to indicate his repentance.
Paul’s point is that when we respond to the harm and wrong that comes from the evil intentions of others by doing the noble and the right thing, even to the point of meeting the pressing and practical needs that they have, we become the vehicle that God can use to reveal His Son Jesus and bring rescue. And because of that reality, Paul closes by commanding the members of the church at Rome, and us here this morning, to not allow the harm and wrong that flows from the evil intents of others to conquer and defeat us. Instead, we are to conquer and overcome the harm and wrong of evil by responding in a way that does the noble and right thing.
So, are we practicing a lifestyle of worship that pleases God in how we treat those around us who are far from God? Do we are to carefully consider our response to the harm and wrong that comes from the evil intentions of others by doing the noble and the right thing? Do we practice a lifestyle that allows God’s righteous response to selfishness and rebellion to take place? For, as we will see next week, God has instruments that He uses here on earth to execute His right and just response to the evil of selfishness and sin.
In the meantime, the timeless reality is that followers of Jesus practice a lifestyle of worship that pleases God. A lifestyle of worship that pleases God through our response of surrender. A lifestyle of worship that pleases God through our response of service. A lifestyle of worship that pleases God through our response toward other Christians. A lifestyle of worship that pleases God through our response toward the world.
So, as a follower of Jesus, are you practicing a lifestyle of worship that pleases God? Are you practicing a lifestyle of worship in a response of surrender and service? Are you practicing a lifestyle of worship in your response toward Christians and the world?
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