Do you rejoice in other's misfortunes?


Proverbs 17:5--It seems to be everywhere. The news, movies, sitcoms, dramas, social media. Our Biblical values are insulted regularly. We're looked down upon and ridiculed at best as quaint and unintelligent, at worst as nefarious and dangerous.

As followers of Jesus, we would never do anything like that. Would we?

What happens when one of our attackers makes a mistake, falls--has a crisis or difficulty. How do we respond?

Do we write that post that dishes out what was cruelly dished to us? Or do we quietly--to ourselves--feel vindication that GOD has finally punished them for their lies?

According to this proverb, if we do either retaliation, we're just as guilty as they are. Yikes! That probably doesn't seem fair, but it all comes down to forgiveness.

When someone sins against us, or even just hurts our feelings, we have an obligation to forgive them. It doesn't mean we condone the act. It doesn't mean it's any less heinous, it just means GOD says we are to forgive because He forgives us.

Matthew 6:14-15, Jesus says, “For if you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions."

Honestly, if someone who has hounded me with lies and mockery, and something calamitous happens to them, if I haven't already forgiven them, I do feel a sense of spitefulness. But that means I need to repent for that, as well as forgive the person.

And, no doubt, GOD will want me to pray for that person. Whether I feel like it or not.

That's the deal with forgiveness. If we want it, we have to give it. But, really, would we want it any other way? Nope.

May we forgive the mockers, my friends.

Proverbs 17:5--Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker. Whoever rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished. Tree of Life Bible SocietyTree of Life Version - TLV #tlvbible #tlvproverbs
[WATCH Tree of Life Bible Society's CEO, Daniah Greenberg and me, Terri Gillespie dig a little deeper with this proverb. Check us out at Tree of Life Bible Society, Monday through Friday, LIVE at 8:30am EST. Watch previous episodes there as well. Stay wise, my friends!]

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