strange or ineffective. However, if one views this strategy holistically from an everyday life perspective, it will all make sense. If a fish is removed from water, it dies. If we remove oxygen from a fire, it dies. If we remove fuel from an engine, it dies. And if we deprive a person of food, they will eventually die. In reality, whenever we cease to fuel the existence of anything, the basic and natural laws dictate that it must die.
The Bible, which most of you may know I refer to as the rule book, is littered with principles that will bring certain situations to an end or, at a minimum, frustrate their efforts. While these principles may initially seem to place the practitioner at a disadvantage, they establish a path to victory and a more peaceful life.
To better illustrate my point, I’d like to invite everyone to focus on Matthew 5:44, which says the following: "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." Again, on the surface, it would appear that this biblical principle for handling our enemies essentially asks us to be a doormat for them and offer no resistance or pushback to their attacks. This is usually the view when emotions and hurt are incorporated into the situation.
However, if we view the scripture mentioned above with wisdom and set our emotions aside, it will begin to make sense to us, leading us to approach situations with a long-term goal rather than a temporary fix that will eventually cause the issue to resurface. So, going back to my initial point, I said, "The best way to end anything is to starve its source of existence." In Matthew 5:44, Jesus is advising us not to retaliate when challenged by our enemies. In fact, He's commanding us to do the opposite of what our enemies are doing to us. While this may appear to be a weak move on the surface, taking the opposite position or refusing to retaliate is a subtle and effective way of disabling your enemy.
You might wonder how this method actually works. It's important to realize that your enemy often hopes you'll respond, because every retaliatory reply they get from you gives them more ammunition. They expect you to react so they can keep testing you. In truth, your responses show them that their actions are getting to you. Basically, by replying, you're giving them the satisfaction they're looking for, which only encourages their foolishness. Here is a more visual look at it. Let's say your enemy is fire, and you are water. Well, when your enemy curses you (fire), the way you extinguish their fire is by blessing them (water). If they are mean to you, you show them kindness, etc. Even if it doesn't seem to be working, continue doing the opposite or not responding at all; eventually, they will become frustrated and back off.
Let us look at some supporting scriptures to further prove my point:
Romans 12:14,19: "Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not." "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."
Luke 6:27-28: “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
1 Peter 3:9: Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
Romans 12:20-21: To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Proverbs 25:21-22: If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
1 Peter 2:23: When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
Luke 6:34-35: And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.
1 Corinthians 4:12-13: and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.
Exodus 23:4-5: “If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him.
Proverbs 24:29: Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.”
Proverbs 20:22: Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
Romans 12:17: Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
Proverbs 24:17-19: Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him. Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and be not envious of the wicked,
1 Thessalonians 5:15: See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
As you have read, the Bible is filled with principles and rules to extinguish the flames of our enemies. The common denominator for those who adhere to scripture is that we do not fuel the fires of our enemies. We must not do so, nor allow anyone to encourage us to do so, because we will be in direct violation of the scriptures.
Again, as I would have said before, the best way to end anything is to starve its source. Stop feeding your enemy's attacks. If you want your enemies to stop, then either stop responding to them or respond according to the word of God. As Believers in Jesus Christ, we are to uphold the rules of scripture rather than our emotions.
Kevin L. A Ewing
ewinglakevin@icloud.com
kevinlaewing.blogspot.com
www.kevinlaewing.com
