Developing Character (3)
3 November 2013 AM – Romans 12:17-21 – Romans – Scott Childs
Introduction: A Christian lady owned two prize chickens that got out of their run and busied themselves in the garden of an ill-tempered neighbor. The man caught the hens, wrung their necks, and threw them back over the fence. Naturally, the woman was upset, but she didn’t get angry and rush over and scream at him. Instead, she took the birds, dressed them out, and prepared two chicken pies. Then she delivered one of the freshly baked pies to the man who had killed her hens. She apologized for not being more careful about keeping her chickens in her own yard. Her children, expecting an angry scene, hid behind a bush to see the man’s face and hear what he’d say. But he was speechless! That chicken pie and apology filled him with a burning sense of shame. But she wasn’t trying to get even. Her motive in returning good for evil was to show her neighbor true Christian love, and maybe even bring about a change of heart. – H.V.L. Our Daily Bread, April 15
Transition: In this last portion of Romans 12 God, deals with the evil way people often treat us. To help us develop godly character God identifies three ways in which we ought to respond properly to evil.
I. Respond Properly by Not Returning Evil for Evil
A. Retaliation is not the answer (v.17)
1. Returning evil for evil only aggravates the situation further.
a) Payback is not a Christian attitude.
b) We must treat others as we want to be treated.
Matthew 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
2. “Provide things honest”, means to give forethought to a good response.
a) Solomon wrote …
Proverbs 15:28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
b) Our instant reaction to evil done to us is often a bad reaction. We must ask God to help us think before we react.
B. Strive to live peaceably with all men (v.18)
1. “Live peaceably with all men.”
a) We are not to provoke to fight. When men are not at peace with us, we must examine our actions.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
b) As much as possible we are to strive to live in peace.
Psalm 34:14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
2. “If it be possible” qualifies the main statement. This implies that it is not always possible but peace ought to be every Christians’ goal.
3. “As much as lieth in you.” This is literally “the things from you.”
a) We must not irritate the problem. We are not to be the cause of a quarrel.
b) This does not condemn self-defence. It simply tells us not to ignite the fire.
II. Respond Properly by Not Punishing Evil Yourself
A. Do not try to do God’s job (v.19)
1. To avenge is to try to punish the offender for what he did to you.
a) This God tells us not to do.
b) Punishment is not our job. This is not saying that we ought to ignore crime, but we ought not to take the law into our own hands.
2. Instead, we must give place to wrath.
a) This phrase means, “give space for the wrath of God.” Compare:
Ephesians 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.
b) Leave room for the judgment of God. – Ironside If we get in God’s way, He cannot do His work.
c) Before the word “wrath”, we find a definite article making it “the wrath” a particular wrath. Thus, is speaks of God’s wrath. When we take vengeance into our own hands, we interfere with God’s wrath. Therefore, we are to let God settle the score His way.
3. The phrase “vengeance is mine” assures us that God will settle the score justly. God may not settle the score before judgment day, but He will eventually settle it fairly.
B. Treat enemies with kindness (v.20)
1. This is a quote from Proverbs 25:21-22.
2. We ought not to be enemies, but sometimes others will be our enemies.
3. We are commanded to show kindness to an enemy.
a) Give him food if he is hungry.
b) Give him water if he is thirsty.
4. Kindness will heap coals of fire upon his head. This is a difficult phrase. The context of doing good to the unkind assures us that it was a kind deed. Perhaps it pictures giving your enemy hot coals to rekindle his cooking fire. Some Bible teachers think it speaks of causing the enemy to be ashamed by our kindness.
III. Respond Properly by Not Allowing Evil to Defeat You
A. Do not let evil overcome you (21)
1. Literally, stop being overcome by evil.
a) This was already happening among early Christians.
b) Perhaps it is already happening in your life as well. If so, it must be stopped.
2. We must not allow evil to overcome or conquer us
a) In this context evil is not temptations to sin but the evil ways of evil people. This can overcome in two ways:
(1) First, evil done to us can defeat us spiritually.
(2) Second, evil done to us may rouse us to return evil for evil. It can make you mean.
b) If your spouse is unkind to you, do not let that evil overcome you so you return evil for evil.
c) If you neighbour, workmate, boss, or any other person does evil to you, do not let it overcome you.
If you let evil overcome you, you lose and the devil wins!
B. You overcome evil with good (21)
1. Good is “what is upright, honourable, and acceptable to God“.
2. Determine what response is good and what is evil.
a) Place yourself in the other person’s shoes and viewing the situation from their perspective.
b) Here is another time to apply God’s test. Prove what is good and what is evil? What would Jesus do?
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.
3. Doing good to those who treat us badly is God’s prescription for conquering evil.
a) “Good” may be doing something especially loving and kind for your spouse who hurt you.
b) “Good” may be being kind and friendly to a neighbour or colleague who has been mean.
c) “Good” may be telling a person who has abused or hurt you that you forgive them.
Conclusion: Someone has said, “Those who deserve love the least need it the most.” Have you been returning evil for evil? Have your actions been aggravating the peace? Have you been taking vengeance into your own hands and interfering with God’s job? Has evil been overcoming you? If so, this morning you need to surrender this area of your life to the Lord. Then, do good to the person who hurt you. Like the lady who cooked the chicken pies for her unkind neighbour, you need to be looking for ways to show kindness instead of trying to get even. This decision requires action.
Song: More like the Master – 325 (verses 1 & 3)