Some people don’t need encouragement to be a pain; they live by the motto, “It’s easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission.” And to grant a biblical blessing to their hurtful ways is, well, just more hurtful. So let me explain what that title means. It’s based on,
“Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
This verse at the end of the 12th chapter of Romans has always intrigued me with its profound simplicity. This two-fold essence of righteousness plays like a musical background theme as Jesus teaches His followers the true meaning of godliness.
Consider the story of the rich, young man (Matthew 19:16-23; Luke 18:18-23) who asked Jesus how he could earn eternal life. The Lord responded by reviewing the generally accepted standards for righteousness: don’t murder, don’t cheat on your wife, don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t sass your parents.
Did you notice the emphasis on refraining from bad behavior? This young man had a good handle on the first phrase in Romans 12:21. He could have boasted:
“I don’t smoke, and I don’t chew,
And I don’t go with girls who do.”
What Jesus did next was to apply the second truth found in our text. “Go, and sell all you have, give it to the poor, and come and follow Me.” In other words, overcome evil with good.
Unfortunately, the young man couldn’t take that step. He realized that true godliness is more than refraining from evil; it’s the practice of goodness, and for him that was too expensive.
But here’s the real test of godliness: the exercise of good in response to evil! When the Apostle Paul penned these words, he was summarizing Jesus’ message on revenge recorded in Matthew 5:43-48.
This act of returning good for evil is the epitome of God’s nature. Not only does God grant mercy to the malicious, He also bestows grace on the godless. And, Jesus says, when God’s children do the same, they best show the family resemblance! Put another way: Everyone will note that you are your Father’s son.
Here’s where the pain part comes in. (Thanks for sticking with me, I really wasn’t trying to be a pain to you, my dear reader.) God says that when we return good for evil, our persecutor will be in agony. (The original word is anthrax… need I say more?) Revered Bible scholar Albert Barnes put it this way:
“It does not mean that we are to do this ‘for the sake’ of heaping coals of fire on him, but that this will be the result . . . The pain will result from shame, remorse of conscience, a conviction of the evil of his conduct, and an apprehension of divine displeasure that may lead to repentance.”
So here’s the challenge. Think about the person who has made your life most miserable. Now, rather than congratulating yourself on not punching their lights out, find a way to make their life better. Do something positive about the negative.
After all, that’s what God did for you and me.
Blessings,

Pastor Dave