“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  – Romans 12:21 

Several years ago a friend of mine was speaking at a conference where after one of his presentations he was approached by a man who began to verbally attack him over something he had said, or at least something the man had perceived he had said.  As my friend’s presentation was not of a subject matter that was especially controversial or political it was probably more the latter, an opinion formed perhaps by age, demographic, and geographical differences rather than philosophical ones.  At any rate, my friend managed to maintain his composure during his attacker’s tirade by respectfully acknowledging what he had to say and moving on.

That was not the end of it, though.  Later my friend sought the man out and invited him to have coffee.  Over coffee they began to chat and realize they had more in common than either would have otherwise imagined, not that they agreed on everything, but at least gained some respect for the other’s views, in a way perhaps even becoming friends.

I have thought about my friend’s story a thousand times since I first heard it, and probably told it almost as many.  One, it is so unlike me whose tendency is to strike back when attacked, or else to withdraw and sulk.  My friend is a much better man than me in that regard.  More importantly, though, I think my friend’s response comes as near to demonstrating true Christian living as any I have ever witnessed or heard; for if we are to live in the image of God, as recipients of God’s grace we should extend that same grace – that same undeserved favor – to others, exactly as my friend had done.

Forgiveness, I am beginning to learn, is not necessarily something we say, it is something we do.  Though he never used the word, my friend through his kindness toward his attacker, granted him the favor of forgiveness in the fullest way by transforming an adversarial relationship into one at the very least of friendly respect.

Paul says it clearly, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil . . . If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.”  (A cup of coffee can do wonders as my friend would attest.)  Finally, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

“Always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.”  – 1 Thessalonians 5:15 

On our recent trip to Stockholm to visit family Tee and I set out one day to explore a particular section of the city.  As we emerged from the subway station and began walking down the street Tee casually suggested to me that we should identify a landmark to keep us oriented so we could find our way back to the train station.  It so happened at that very moment we were walking in front of an outdoor café, and no sooner had she said it than out stepped the proprietor of the cafe.  “Excuse me,” he interrupted, “I overheard your conversation, and may I point out to you that church steeple over there, a landmark you can see from almost anywhere.  Look for that and you will never be lost.”

As it turned out, that single event set the tone for our entire two weeks visiting Stockholm, as the café proprietor’s kindness and friendliness was in fact not unusual at all but rather quite the norm.  Soon we began to believe it to be the friendliest and most courteous city we have ever visited.  When boarding public transportation, for instance, whether a bus, train car, or ferry, if it was standing-room-only riders would jump to their feet offering their seats – even to us, strangers in a foreign land.  It was amazing!

In what is perhaps Jesus’ best known and most widely quoted parable, he tells the story of a man found lying in the dust on the side of the road beaten half to death and robbed of his belongings.  After a priest and a Levite hurried past to tend to their much more urgent business, a third man came along who stopped, tending to the victim, binding his wounds, then loading him on his donkey and delivering him to a place of care and safety, an act so profound that even in today’s news when we read about some kind soul stopping to render aid we still refer to that person, as from Jesus’ parable, a Good Samaritan.

The kindness, courtesy, and respect we experienced in Stockholm caused me to consider something about the Good Samaritan that I had never thought of.  More than just a one-off act of kindness – in contrast to the two who passed by on the other side of the road – it reflects an attitude, which in the broader society translates into a culture of kindness, courtesy and respect for others; for as Frederick Buechner once wrote, “unless we live for each other and in and through each other, we do not really live very satisfactorily.”  As the Apostle Paul says, “Always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.” 

“Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.” – Proverbs 30:8 

Is it true that the one who dies with the most toys wins?  Or how about the one who accumulates the most money and property, the real life “Monopoly” game?  What about the one who is the most brilliant and has the most advanced degrees, or the one who has reached the highest level in his or her organization, the one who has traveled the most, is the best athlete, the most talented artist or musician, has won the most awards, or become the most famous or the most powerful?  In the end who is the winner?

If you could ask the wisest and richest man who ever lived, a man who spent most of his life accumulating and experiencing everything he could, gaining more wealth and fame and enjoying more sensual pleasures than any of us could ever imagine, King Solomon’s answer would be none-of-the-above.  He summed it up in an essay we know as the Book of Ecclesiastes in which he declared emphatically that nothing on this earth can fully satisfy the desire for complete fulfillment – nothing.  “Meaningless! . . . Utterly meaningless!” he declared.  “Everything is meaningless . . . a chasing after the wind.”

Let’s be clear, however, Solomon’s intention was not to discourage the pursuit of success through hard work and best use of our gifts and talents; for there is no denial of our need to provide for ourselves, take care of our families and have the ability to help others, to prosper through our endeavors.  Yet, it does beg the question, how much is enough?

A wise father, the father of one of my closest friends, instructed my friend as he was completing his education and about to strike out on his own, “you need to have enough,” he said, “but you don’t need to have too much.”  I suspect my friend may have been confused at first by his father’s words, for he had worked hard at preparing himself to become successful as he had always been encouraged to do.  But his father understood the wisdom in the Proverb writer’s prayer, “. . . give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me my daily bread.  Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you . . . or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”  What a great lesson my friend received from his father, and what a gift that he passed along to me!  As King David once prayed, “Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.”  May we – all of us – never lose sight of that.

There are two particular passages of Scripture that have guided my life for many years.  One pertains to daily living (see last week); the other to leaving a legacy (see below).  Thought I would share them while we are traveling overseas.

Psalm 78:1-7

O my people, hear my teaching;

listen to the words of my mouth.

I will open my mouth in parables,

I will utter hidden things, things from of old –

what we have heard and known,

what our fathers have told us.

We will not hide them from their children;

we will tell the next generation

the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,

his power, and the wonders he has done.

He decreed statutes for Jacob

and established the law in Israel,

which he commanded our forefathers

to teach their children,

so the next generation would know them,

even the children yet to be born,

and they in turn would tell their children.

Then they would put their trust in God

and would not forget his deeds

but would keep his commands.

There are two particular passages of Scripture that have guided my life for many years.  One pertains to daily living (see below); the other to leaving a legacy (next week).  Thought I would share them while we are traveling overseas. 

From Romans Chapter 12:

“Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.  Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.  We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.  If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.  If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. 

Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with God’s people who are in need.  Practice hospitality.  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  Live in harmony with one another.  Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited. 

Do not repay anyone evil for evil.  Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.  On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”