Original Entry: May 20, 2008
McMinnville, OR
Do not
hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke
you neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt. Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against
one of your people, but you’re your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:17-18
Eye for
eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. Exodus 21:24
Guys love
to talk smack and make mock threats. One of the phrases I love to use when
getting messed with is simply, “You had better be careful or I will go O.T. on
your face!”
“What? You
are going to go over time?”
“No” I
explain with a smile, “It means I will go Old Testament on you! You know, ‘Eye for eye, tooth for tooth,
hand for hand, foot for foot’ (Exodus 21:24).” Smiling, I will continue
with something like, “I will seriously throw down on you!
Sadly,
however that is often a reality with Christian men. Isn’t that how many men in and out of churches
deal with those who have hurt them? We
live under the unwritten “Rule of Reciprocation” that says, “Hey, I will be
good to you as long as you are good to me, but I will repay bad in
kind! I will go O.T. on your face if
you hurt me!”
The
problem comes when we read that Jesus taught us to stop playing fair. Jesus taught us that the only way to have
successful relationships is to cheat.
That’s right; cheat on your spouse, cheat on your kids and cheat the
ones you love. Cheaters have the best
relationships.
Here is what I mean. Jesus said, "But
I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless
those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on
one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop
him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes
what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them
do to you” (Luke 6: 27-31).
In Romans 12:20 we read the words of Paul
who was also a relationship cheater, “But
if your enemy is hungry feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for
in doing so you will heap burning coals upon his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil
with good.”
I used to
think the Old Testament and New Testament gave a different message until I read
Leviticus 19:18 and realized that
the law will perform justice according to what is fair, but men should cheat in
their relationships by taking the high road of grace, mercy and forgiveness.
Men,
listen up, refuse to play fair. Cheat
instead.
Let God be
God. Vengeance is His, not yours (Romans
12:19). God’s job is justice ours is
to cheat and, “love your neighbor as
yourself” (Leviticus 19:18).
Don’t
fight fair. Cheat in your relationships. Choose the high road.
