Something hurtful happened to me the other day. I rarely bring my pedal steel guitar to the beach, but decided to bring it this day to the beach. I set it in the grass before the sand. It's about 500 feet from my car to the area where I was going to perform for free. I love sharing my music and letting the kids try to play the guitar. They learn something new. I always bring a bag full of Gospels of John to give away to others. I have a little portable 2-wheel dolly that I store in my car.
I had my $700 Fender Princeton Reverb amplifier and a milk crate with items inside, like my volume pedal and instrument cables. I tried to roll them both on the dolly over some tree roots, but it all fell over on the ground. My $700 amplifier hit the ground pretty hard but seemed ok. I stacked everything back onto the dolly and started to roll again, but it all fell over again and my amp hit the ground hard again. I heard a group of people burst out in laughter the second time everything fell. I looked right at them and they were starring at me. They were a family having a barbeque.
I walked by and told them that they shouldn't laugh when someone falls down. I quoted the Scripture about doing unto others as you'd have them do unto you. I quoted the Scripture which says if you've done it unto the least of these My brethren, then you've done it unto me. I walked away. I forgot something in the car and went back to get it. As I walked by they were laughing at me, mocking me. I forgot something else and went back again, and I heard them laughing at me again, mocking me. I was so mad and trying to keep my composure. I looked at them. I was so mad.
I grabbed my bag of Bibles and walked right up to their group. I kindly said, “Could I please give you some Gospels of John?” To my surprise they accepted them, but others wouldn't. So I left 4 laying on their portable table. There were about 20 of them, several adults and their children. I passed out about 10 Bibles. I said, “I didn't mean to snap at you before. It's just that nobody likes to be laughed at when they fall down. I know you weren't trying to be mean by laughing. God bless, have a good day” and then I kindly left. I diffused the situation. I overcame evil with good. I don't always do the right thing like that (I wish I did), but I sure want to do better and better with the Lord's help.
Trust The Lord To Avenge, Knowing That God Sees When People Mistreat Us
I love the following passage of Scripture. King David had commit adultery and murder. One of David's subjects and enemies, ran alongside David casting dirt and stones at him, willing to die he was so angry. One of David's men offers to kill the man. But David said to leave him alone. David reasoned that perhaps God would later bless him, seeing that this man had cursed David...
2nd Samuel 16:11-13, “And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day. And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.”
I often think about this passage of Scripture when people are abusive, mean and rotten toward me. I know that God sees their evil toward me. God sees their hatred. God sees their jealousy, God sees their hypocrisy. God sees their wickedness. And so I leave the matter alone, trusting the Lord to avenge me as He promised in Romans 12:19, and believing that perhaps God may bless me in His wondrous mercy, in repayment for the unkindness, cruelty and cursing of my enemies. That is exactly what the Bible teaches here. If we avenge ourselves and try to get back at others, hurt them and attack them, then God won't do anything.