Overcome Evil With Good

A Different Way to React

In Romans 12:21, the apostle Paul wrote:

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught us to do good to those who treat us badly. This does not feel natural to us. When someone is mean, our natural reaction is to be mean back to them.

However, when we act mean in return, we only make the world a darker place. When we choose to do good to those who do not deserve it, we bring glory to God.

Proving We are God’s Children

Jesus explained that reacting with love is a sign of our identity. If we love our enemies, speak well of those who insult us, do good to those who dislike us, and pray for those who mistreat us, we prove that we are children of God (Matthew 5:38-48).

Admittedly, this is extremely difficult to do every day. It hurts when others treat us unkindly.

Often, people who put others down do so because they feel insecure about themselves. If we let their behavior upset us, we let them win.

Defusing a Bully

There is nothing more frustrating for a bully than a person who responds with kindness and remains unaffected by insults. When you refuse to let a bully’s opinion matter to you, you take away their power.

If you go a step further by praying for them and helping them when they are in need, it becomes very difficult for them to maintain their bad attitude toward you.

When I was in high school, a boy used to flick my ears and bother me during class. One day, I turned around and calmly asked why he enjoyed doing it. He looked completely surprised.

Embarrassed, he replied:

“I don’t know. I just do it.”

From that day on, he stopped bothering me, and we actually became friends!

Respond Like Jesus

Not everyone who mistreats you will end up becoming your friend. However, you never have to answer evil with evil.

Jesus showed perfect goodness to those who were cruel to Him, and we should strive to do the same.