Kill Them With Kindness

Last a week a man chased a robber out of his house with an ax. After running a few blocks he caught up with a man who he thought was the robber and brutally killed him. The problem was, it wasn’t even the right man, and the man that was killed had car trouble and was walking to a gas station for help. We live in a world that loves revenge, we see it movies, books, TV, and in the news. Revenge is in. Most revenge stories both in the Bible and in the 21st Century happen within families, marriages, friends and neighbors. When we participate in revenge, we destroy the relationships that matter most to us. Paul said in Romans 12 …

“17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.” Romans 12:17-19 NIV

When we carry out revenge it weakens our faith because we are trying to take God’s place in the business of vengeance. Revenge not only divides us from each other, it separates us from God. Not only that, we often don’t even it get right when we carry it out; we either hurt the wrong people, or the justice we seek is unfair. However if you have been wronged it doesn’t mean you can’t do something about it. In fact God expects us to do something about it; just not in the way the world would go about it. Let’s read a little bit more of Romans 12.

“20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:20-21 NIV

You have heard the term, “kill them with kindness”. Paul speaks of that strategy here in v.20. When we do kind things for people who hurt us, we obviously don’t want to hurt or kill them, but we want to kill the hate, bitterness, anger, and hard feelings that we have in the relationship. We kill anger with love and kindness. We kill bitterness and jealousy with mercy and humility. Through kindness and love we can save marriages, friendships, churches, businesses, schools, and nations. Here is a good definition of kindness, it is learning to treat others the way God has treated you.