Website owner:  James Miller

A matter of response




   I have had, from youth, a certain way of dealing with a certain 
   situation which I think is worthy of note.  It is this:  when 
   someone does me a wrong I don't respond in the usual and 
   natural way.  Instead of striking back, as do most people, I 
   don't strike back.  The usual and natural way is to strike 
   back.  If someone says something nasty to you, you answer back.   
   If they do you a wrong, you retaliate in some way.  You see it 
   every day: tit for tat.  But I don't do that.  Instead, in such 
   a situation, I think to myself,  "May God answer you! I will 
   not!  I leave this in God's hands."  And I do.  I forget it.  
   If someone wants to argue with me, I won't argue.  I walk away.  
   If they want to fight, I won't fight.  If I know someone is my 
   enemy and wishes me bad I am very careful to do nothing against 
   him and wish no bad for him.  I leave him for God to deal with.  
   I treat him well. 

   How do you think I happened to develop this unusual way of 
   responding to this kind of situation?  Perhaps it came out of 
   some of my youthful reflections?  Possibly.  I am not sure.  But 
   perhaps my youthful knowledge of scripture may have played a 
   part, also.  I think of the following scripture:

   Mat 5:38-45   Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for 
   an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: {39} But I say unto you, That 
   ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right 
   cheek, turn to him the other also. {40} And if any man will sue 
   thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak 
   also. {41} And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go 
   with him twain. {42} Give to him that asketh thee, and from him 
   that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. {43} Ye have 
   heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, 
   and hate thine enemy. {44} But I say unto you, Love your 
   enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate 
   you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and 
   persecute you; {45} That ye may be the children of your Father 
   which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil 
   and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the 
   unjust. 

   Rom 12:19   Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather 
   give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I 
   will repay, saith the Lord. 

   Prov 26:4   Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou 
   also be like unto him. 


   Nov 2004






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