Devotional Guide, Today’s Reading – Monday, November 4, 2019

Theme: AVENGE NOT YOURSELVES

Text: “Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.” – Romans 12:19 World English Bible.

Comment: Psychologists say the reasons people seek revenge include the humiliating insult of unfulfilled expectations, the trauma of childhood physical, emotional, or sexual abuse and other manifestations of frustration. Sometimes  people “feel the urge to pick up weapons—whether physical (i.e., guns and bombs) or verbal (i.e. sarcasm and curses) — and turn them on others”. The quest for revenge pushes people into terrorism, school violence,  suicide, etc.  There are instances where the quest for vengeance leads some to self-sabotage with the hope that the self-inflicted suffering will pass the message to their parents and those around them: “Look what a mess I am! It’s all your fault!”

Occasionally working tools disappoint and the person is so angry and frustrated that he directs his anger at things. For instance, a tool breaks right in the middle of an important task, leaving us feeling frustrated and helpless, we will smash the tool onto the floor and curse it. It is true that damaging the equipment won’t fix anything, but we receive the satisfaction or relief by transferring the anger at it – even though we have to later spend money to repair it.

There is so much violence in the world today because people are taught everyday that insult merits immediate revenge.  But the Bible says: “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” – Proverbs 16:32

Leave a Reply