One great way to make enemies

I’d like to believe that doing the right thing means people will like and support you. Sadly, this isn’t always the case. Scripture often demonstrates this.

David, for instance, did nothing wrong. He killed Goliath and served King Saul with absolute integrity. David loved Saul’s son as a friend and his daughter as his wife. He followed the King’s orders and saved the King’s life.

Despite all this, Saul was dead set on killing David. He tried many times, and often David was left feeling very alone. In 1 Samuel 19:12, for instance, he had to sneak out of his own home and flee into the night. And while Scripture does not specifically say it, I imagine he felt very confused and isolated as he climbed out his window into the dark wilderness before him.

Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel. He literally proved God’s existence to everyone watching, and yet was hunted for it. He escaped to the wilderness and felt like such a failure that he asked God, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” (1 Kings 19:4, ESV)

Paul was one of the greatest teachers to ever lived. He constantly preached the Gospel and did what the Lord called him to do. He describes the consequences in 2 Corinthians 11 –

“far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles,danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.”

Jesus, of course, is our perfect example. He lived a perfect life, did nothing wrong, and the people crucified him.

Doing the right thing, it seems, often produces serious enemies. 

Upon realizing this, there are a few questions we must answer.

1) Does this mean we stop doing the right thing? Of course not. It will rarely be easy, but nonetheless we are called by God to live righteously. “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16, ESV) There will be times in this life when you face extreme opposition, but even then, continue to honor the Lord with your actions.

2) Does this mean evil people win? No, at least, not in the long run. Saul tried to kill David, but God protected him and gave David the throne. Elijah was swept away into heaven by a chariot of fire. Paul saw more people come to faith and planted more churches than most of us could ever dream of. Jesus conquered death and now sits enthroned above all others.

3) How should we respond to ridicule? While it is very tempting to return hate with hate, it will only leave us feeling bitter and angry. Instead, we should follow the example of Christ, who on the cross said, “Father, forgive them…” (Luke 23:34). Martin Luther has another great quote, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

4) Why should we do the right thing? Sometimes the evil in this world can seem very great, insurmountable even. But those who are in Christ have a hope to hold onto. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Like Paul and David, like Elijah and Christ, like the millions of martyrs who have died because of their love for Jesus, we look forward to a day when the broken things of the world are put back together. “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more,neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4, ESV)

We have an incredible hope to hold onto. What’s more, we have an incredible King who identifies with our suffering. Doing the right thing does not guarantee we’ll find success according to the world’s standards, but when all is said and done, only God’s standards actually matter.

Continue to do what it is right, even when it is hard.

Continue to #LiveFully.