You May Have A Reason…
I used to tell my children this, and now I am doing it again with my grandchildren. "You may have a ‘reason’…but it doesn’t give you a ‘right’." It is usually spoken when someone was "wronged". Then they felt the urge to come back with an appropriate action of, at the very least, equal pain. Whether it was a verbal onslaught or a physical attack, there was always a reason to retaliate. Things don’t change even when we "grow up", do they?
“You may have a reason”, even a very good reason, “but it doesn’t give you the right.” Under the law that Moses was given, one would be allowed “like” for “like” (eye-for-an-eye). But that really didn’t cure anything…you had a reason, but both parties are now blind in one eye!
Paul said, echoing Ezekiel 7, … “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord... Romans 12:19. He goes on in verses 20 and 21 to echo Jesus’ teaching on how to treat those who would want to hurt you.
Jesus said, you may have a reason for revenge, but here is what you should do: don’t fight back with the bad stuff. Rather, use kindness, forgiveness, assistance, and love as your “right”…and that’s enough to take care of the reason… Matt. 5:38-48. God will take care of the “revenge” for us.
So the next time someone gives you a “reason”…remember your “rights” are God-given and inspired!