Verse: Proverbs 24:17-18 ESV
“Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.”
Devotion
This Proverb really challenged me. When we’ve been dealing with a person that we might consider an enemy, or even just someone that annoys us or is difficult to deal with, how do we do what this Proverb guides? How do we not rejoice when that person messes up, gets what’s coming to them, or is proven wrong (and we are proven right)?
Don’t you feel just a little bit happy inside when you see someone who has been terrible to you or who thinks differently than you (and is obviously wrong) goes down? Or, when you see them finally get the justice they deserve – don’t you feel better? For me, it seems like this feeling is everywhere right now. In politics. In religion. In reactions to dealing with the pandemic. Maybe even in sports??
I find that doing what this Proverb guides is really difficult, if not impossible, on my own. I love (love, love) to be right. I’ll admit – when someone I’ve been having a tough time with gets called on the carpet or trips up – my first reaction is to feel proud of myself and feel better than that person.
This Proverb is calling me to do something different than my normal reaction. In fact, the wisdom of these verses warns me. If I’m gloating when someone else messes up, God is not happy about it. Not in the least. In fact, the anger He has toward the evil someone else is doing just might be turned toward me. (Watch out, buddy!)
How can I do what these verses direct?
I think the answer lies in what Jesus taught. He said that when we talk with God, our Heavenly Father, we should ask Him to “… forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.” (Matthew 6:12 NLT) We are to give that same forgiveness to those who have sinned against us (our Proverbial enemies) that God has given it to us. Here again, is the challenge – we can’t do this on our own.
Perspective helps. When we realize how much God has forgiven us for all the terrible things that we each have done, how can we not give that same forgiveness to others? When we realize how much we have been forgiven, it’s truly humbling. We find that we have no right to see ourselves as better than anyone else, including our enemies.
It’s super tough to do, but, this is what we are called to do as followers of Jesus. It’s what He will give us power to do, if we truly ask. It’s what will set us apart and shine God’s light in this dark world. It’s what we and others need so much, especially right now.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for the forgiveness and love that you have shown us through Jesus. Please help us to show that same love, even to those who are difficult to love and have done wrong to us. Please heal us from our hurts and help us to grow closer to you as we learn to love like you. Amen.
Author: Chris Fraser
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