Common Fallacy

Proverbs 24:29 (KJV) Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.

There are several things going on in this verse, but I want to point out that it’s easy to misunderstand the second part.  Other places in Proverbs, we are told not to respond to a fool in the same way that he acts, but in the next verse, we are told to respond in a way that his acts deserve.  I think that’s part of what’s going on here.

We are not to respond in the sense of seeking vengeance or even justice for ourselves.  That’s what this is about.  Other places it tells us that we have a responsibility to rebuke and correct.  It’s our motive and our goal that is in question. we have a responsibility to try and bring people to the right decisions, but we have a command of God not to use the law just to advance our own agenda.

So?  It might be hard to know the difference sometimes.  We always need to start by examining our own hearts.  We need to not respond from emotion, but reason.  The Holy Spirit will help us make these choices.