Proverbs 17:13

New International Version

Evil will never leave the house
    of one who pays back evil for good.

For Meditation

You opened your heart and gave your best to help them. You sought no payback. Neither did you intend to call for reciprocal action when you need a favor. You did it for the love of God. But they have paid you back, anyway. And what did you receive? Insult and abuse, betrayal, and lies, and that breaks your heart. Insult and abuse, betrayal, and lies have left you feeling disappointed, hurt, wounded, angry, and discouraged. You may have said in your heart, “Never again!”

 Well, I know your situation, and can feel your pain. It is genuine, and only the insensitive and cruel would dismiss it. I share your horror and disgust, but more than that, Jesus shares and empathizes with you (Heb. 4:14-15)—one reassurance He gives you as One who has endured it all but did not sin. You become like them when you condescend to their level and then turn bitter and vengeful. So, do not go there!

Remember, it is one of the enemy’s most successful strategies. He is skillful at playing with your mind. It is a war of attrition in your feelings and emotions. He employs a deliberate plan to dull your senses and faith. Then, finally, he destroys your Christian testimony and steals your joy. Do not let him win.

Remember, it is on them and never on you! They think they did it to you, but they did it to themselves. Listen to Solomon on this matter.

“Evil never leaves the house of the one who pays back evil for good” (Prov. 17:13).

The one who paid you evil for your generosity and kindness has built a shrine of evil in their house that rules over their affairs until they repent.

What then do you do?

First, step out of the line of ants before attempting to pick them off your body. You cannot end your pain while nursing the insults they heaped on you. Your suffering will not go away if you hold the issue in your heart and continue to brood over it. Step away from the matter and settle yourself before the Lord.

Joseph stepped away from his brothers the first time he met them in Egypt and cried his heart out before the Lord in his chamber. His pain intensified the more he spoke to his brothers about their family (Gen 42:24). Stepping away from the agony and into the presence of God was therapeutic and would be for you, too.

Second, ask The Lord to replace your pain with a willing heart to forgive. It will heal the wounds in your heart. Joseph forgave his brothers after dealing with it before the Lord (50:19-21).

Third, love them. Love covers a multitude of sins (Prov. 10:12; 1 Pt. 4:8). Instead of hatred, Joseph promised to take care of them. He graciously ushered them from their place of lack and suffering into one of abundance in Egypt. Your protagonists enjoy seeing you writhing in pain. But see how fast their joy dissipates when you choose to love them.

Finally, pray for them. Until you forgive with love, you cannot pray for them. How Christlike we become when we live this way.