There is an old expression that’s often ignored, “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you”. I know a man and his family that suffered several significant calamities in a short period of time, and when those tragedies struck I was right there to help them get through it.
What did he do? He bit the hand that fed him.
This guy was at one time heavily involved with church, but he got his hands on some money through an inheritance and went off the deep end and started taking drugs and heavily drinking. It was only a matter of time that he abandoned his wife and family and his entire demeanor changed for the worse.
I tried to counsel him a couple of times, but he rejected it and told me to mind my own business; after numerous rebuffs I decided just to “shake the dust off my feet” and told him that this situation was a two-way street and I Was no man’s whipping boy and I didn’t want him coming around me or my property anymore.
That put him in a rage, and he immediately began saying bad things about me to anyone who would listen..
So, the Bible tells me I should forgive those who sin against me. Should this be carte blanche? Should we forgive and forgive and forgive regardless of someone’s behavior.
The Bible further tells us to turn the other cheek.
Gr-r-r-r-r-r I had reached a point with this joker whereby I did not want to turn the other cheek; I wanted to slap his.
Sir Walter Scott had difficulty with the idea of “turning the other cheek.” But Jesus’ words took on special meaning one day when he threw a rock at a stray dog to chase it away. His aim was straighter and his delivery stronger than he had intended, and he hit the animal and broke its leg. Instead of running off, the poor little dog limped over to him and licked his hand. Sir Walter never forgot that touching response. He said, “That dog preached the Sermon on the Mount to me as few ministers have ever presented it.” Scott said he’d not found human beings so ready to forgive their enemies.
When I read this story I imagined that was the Holy Spirit talking directly to me through Sir Walter Scott. I had been thinking about all the generous things I did to help this man and his family and now he was working overnight day and night cursing me to anyone and everyone who would listen. It made me want to go over to his house and thump him one.
Yikes! What if I broke his leg and he licked me?
So, with God no matter how serious the sin, He is always seeking us out and is willing to forgive and forget our sins and give us a fresh start. As long as we live, it is never too late to ask for forgiveness and make a new start! We should emulate Him.
I am not God however, and I found it impossible to deal with this man. After many attempts to reason with him I decided it was best just to turn it over to God and quit engaging with him at all. I concluded we can never explain the deep things of God to those whom we know to be wallowing in sin. It’s impossible to discuss the great things that God has done for us to the profane and furious, that harass us and try to make our lives miserable. Doing evil seems to consume their minds, spirit and entire being. This is not to say that we cannot and should not pray for them and ask God’s help in reaching them, but perhaps keeping a little distance is still in order.
Matthew 7:6
“Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.”