(Part Two)
1 Peter 3:9 KJV
[9] “not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”
We are never to retaliate toward another brother in Christ. Even if you believe that a brother is spreading stories about you that are not true, just let him talk and stay silent. God will take care of you and them in the end. We are never to return evil for evil. It is never right to drag another brother’s name through the mud, even if he is slandering us. Our character may be challenged by what people say about us, but it should never change because of it. In other words, we should not allow those brethren who have poor character to change ours. We are not to stoop to their level and become what we despise. God sees them for what they are, and He sees you for who you are.
Our verse says that we are to act contrary to retaliation. When being mistreated or spoken evil of, we should return a blessing. You may ask yourself why you should do this to someone who has mistreated you, and the answer is in our verse. Peter gives us two reasons why we would want to do this.
The first reason is our calling to respond to people with good and not evil. If God was good to us even before we were saved and forgave us, then we should do the same to others.
Another reason is that we will inherit a blessing. Our verse teaches that God will bless us for being a blessing to those who mistreat us. Would you rather receive a blessing from the hand of God or His chastisement? No one ever gets away with the mistreatment of another brother in Christ.
What I am about to say is a sad commentary, but it is true. I’ve seen preachers and church members become bitter because they continually spoke evil about other preachers and church members. They railed against them to others, and in the end, they lost their joy and became useless in the work of God. What gives us the right to talk about the shortcomings of others and how they have mistreated us in light of our sin at the cross? We should show mercy and forgiveness because we have received it by the hand of God. Lord, help us to get along with each other.