Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
1 Thessalonians 5:15
A Command for the Whole Community
The first thing I notice about this verse is that we're not just making sure that we don't pay back wrong for wrong. We also need to make sure that nobody else pays back wrong for wrong. We as a church are a community and as a community we hold each other accountable to live lives worthy of the calling Christ has put on our lives. When we see somebody paying back wrong for wrong and they're a member of our church or they're a member of our community, we need to be willing and able to correct that in a loving way.
Now I'm not saying that we need to hold a tribunal and cast people out of the church. That's not what this is saying at all. What this is saying is that when we as followers of Jesus pay back wrong for wrong, we're sending the wrong message to the world. What we need to do is what our rabbi Jesus tells us to do. When we are wronged we don't pay back evil for evil. We pay back good for evil so that, as Jesus would say, we heap burning coals on those who would see that we stumble.
The author of this letter, Paul, is telling us that we should always strive to try to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. This is not saying that we don't take care of ourselves. We need to in order for us to be healthy human beings but what this is saying is that we need to consider others as well, to think through other needs not just our own.
I like how Paul also makes a distinction between ”each other” (within the community) and ”everyone else” (the whole world). No one is exempt from this. We don't get to choose for whom we strive to do good. We do good to each other in the community within the church and we do good to everyone else, even outside of the church. Even those who are not a part of our community, those who don't believe in Jesus.
Practice on the Person Who Annoys You
So how do we apply this to our lives? The best way is to practice. I can almost guarantee that today, as you read this, there is someone in your life who annoys you. There's someone in your life who has done wrong to you. Someone has offended you, someone has done something that has made you upset.
Instead of retaliating, take a moment, pray, and let it go. When somebody does wrong to you, do something nice for them. This is the way that Jesus lived and this is the way that he commanded us to live as well. To follow Jesus, let's make sure that we are not repaying evil for evil but instead striving to do our best to do good for each other and for everyone else
Prayer
Jesus, help us to do good to one another. Help us to live our lives worthy of the calling that you have placed on our lives. Show us how to love one another, not just within the church, not just within our community, but to the whole world, sharing your love and your peace and your guidance with everyone.
Help us also to forgive those who hurt us. Help us to not hold grudges and to respond to the hurt that is bestowed upon us with love and with grace. We pray all this in Jesus' name. Amen.