There's the story about a farmer who found his neighbor's horse in the middle of his field. He became angry about it and took the horse to the local pound. Later he met the horse's owner and told him what he had done and added, "If I catch him there again, I'll do the same thing." The neighbor replied to this by saying, "Well, the other night I looked out my window and saw your cow in my field. I got your cow and drove her over to your house, put her in the barn and fixed the gate. If I catch her there again, I'll do the same thing." The first man reportedly was so awestruck by his neighbor's soft answer that he immediately went to the pound, retrieved the horse, paid the charges and returned it to his neighbor.

It's so easy to let our baser nature take over in instances like this. The common response to harsh treatment is to return the same and add a little to it. It's not easy to turn the other cheek, to overcome evil with good, is it? But this is what Christians are taught to do. Consider this...

"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 you 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." - (Rom. 12:17-21).

Well, who ever said Christianity would be easy?

Lonnie Ritchie
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