“Enemy Problems” (Luke 12:58-59)

O what a good thing it is to live a life without enemies. If ever we’re wondering why on earth we came to a point wherein we have made some, let us look back and examine ourselves.

For when you are going with your adversary before the magistrate, try diligently on the way to be released from him, lest perhaps he drag you to the judge and the judge deliver you to the officer and the officer throw you into prison. I tell you: You will by no means get out of there until you have paid the very last penny” (Luke 12:58-59).

For our own sakes, at the outset, let us just avoid having to owe anyone anything. This can be literal or figurative. It is better to lack things in life than try to have them by borrowing money to buy them. We also incur debt when we whimsically, maliciously, and sadistically attack and hurt our fellow human beings or even animals out of the flimsiest excuse. Let us not fool ourselves thinking we can get away and avoid consequences. No-oh. Sooner or later, we will have to make good on the physical pain, emotional distress, mental anguish, and all sorts of damage that we have caused others. If not in this life, maybe in the next, in eternity when we will receive our just recompense. But it is very likely that we will also pay here in this life because God cannot be mocked. What we sow is what we will also reap.

God is love, but He is also just. His favor is on those who put their trust in Him and obey His commandments with all their heart. But His face is against hardheaded reprobates. When His true children disobey, He usually punishes them immediately to remind them that sin is not worth it. But He couldn’t care less about those who have totally given themselves to evil. He lets them wallow in their wickedness and even prosper in it for a while because, by this, He fattens them up for the day of slaughter. He waits until they achieve the perfect meatiness and juiciness because nothing can be tastier than a well-cultured venison.

To the bigot, the opinions and feelings of the weak, uneducated, and unfortunate don’t matter. The latter are hardly human to them and are merely objects for their selfish interests. However, Yahweh is known for His usual tendency to side with and hear the cause of the afflicted; and He may, by His grace, endow those poor souls with strength, enough to enable them to drag their offenders by the ear in order to face justice.

Some people are able to carry themselves, while others need guidance. Some are strong and some are weak. It is the responsibility of the strong to uplift the weak, and no one on earth and in heaven gives them the right to use them, take advantage of them, and dispose of them. It may sometimes be difficult for the strong to resist the temptation when the weak seems available to play with or be tormented in some way; but if they have ever heard of the concept of decency and self-control, they wouldn’t do such a thing. If only they have heard of it.

Because those whom we hurt and owed from might be able to exact payment from us in the future. And when that happens, the best thing that we can do is to truly repent, sincerely apologize, and seek to be reconciled. Otherwise, justice will surely take its course. We forgive in order to just end ceaseless wars and totally obliterate hate. Because fighting is pointless. War. What is it good for? Absolutely nothing. But as long as we remain prideful, irrational, belligerent, and aggressive, the weaker party has no choice but to defend themselves with the every ounce of strength that they have until, with God’s help, they may even turn the tables on us.

As long as we can, we mend and make whole again that which was broken. It doesn’t matter if it already has many cracks. Better be that way than for it to stay totally broken. We enhance whatever part is still useful and functional. And from now on, we will only see what is good in our fellowmen and overlook their defects. If they err, we lovingly correct them so that they can change for the better. That way, we can live harmoniously.

If it is still possible to turn back from the trouble we got ourselves into, we do so. Otherwise, there will be no more remedies, no escape. Let us not be lazy about this since we are the ones who put ourselves in such a predicament. We brought this upon ourselves. If we don’t do what’s necessary, the thing that we dread will definitely happen to us. If we refuse to take the initiative, we will have the luxury to sit back and relax while waiting for the day of reckoning.

O what a good thing it is to live without anyone trying to harm us. How wonderful life is without enemies. If ever we are wondering why on earth we came to a point wherein we have made enemies, let us look back and examine ourselves. Maybe we unintentionally offended others or behaved in a way that drew the ire, if not the hatred, of incurable bigots. Maybe at some point, we got cute. Maybe we have been careless and thoughtless in our words and actions. Or most probably, our enemies are simply demon-possessed and what they are doing to us has no valid basis at all.

Passage by Passage: Luke 12 series, episode 11

by: Marven T. Baldo

For when you are going with your adversary before the magistrate, try diligently on the way to be released from him, lest perhaps he drag you to the judge and the judge deliver you to the officer and the officer throw you into prison. I tell you: You will by no means get out of there until you have paid the very last penny” (Luke 12:58-59).

For our own sakes, at the outset, let us just avoid having to owe anyone anything. This can be literal or figurative. It is better to lack things in life than try to have them by borrowing money to buy them. We also incur debt when we whimsically, maliciously, and sadistically attack and hurt our fellow human beings or even animals out of the flimsiest excuse. Let us not fool ourselves thinking we can get away and avoid consequences. No-oh. Sooner or later, we will have to make good on the physical pain, emotional distress, mental anguish, and all sorts of damage that we have caused others. If not in this life, maybe in the next, in eternity when we will receive our just recompense. But it is very likely that we will also pay here in this life because God cannot be mocked. What we sow is what we will also reap.
God is love, but He is also just. His favor is on those who put their trust in Him and obey His commandments with all their heart. But His face is against hardheaded reprobates. When His true children disobey, He usually punishes them immediately to remind them that sin is not worth it. But He couldn’t care less about those who have totally given themselves to evil. He lets them wallow in their wickedness and even prosper in it for a while because, by this, He fattens them up for the day of slaughter. He waits until they achieve the perfect meatiness and juiciness because nothing can be tastier than a well-cultured venison.
To the bigot, the opinions and feelings of the weak, uneducated, and unfortunate don’t matter. The latter are hardly human to them and are merely objects for their selfish interests. However, Yahweh is known for His usual tendency to side with and hear the cause of the afflicted; and He may, by His grace, endow those poor souls with strength, enough to enable them to drag their offenders by the ear in order to face justice.
Some people are able to carry themselves, while others need guidance. Some are strong and some are weak. It is the responsibility of the strong to uplift the weak, and no one on earth and in heaven gives them the right to use them, take advantage of them, and dispose of them. It may sometimes be difficult for the strong to resist the temptation when the weak seems available to play with or tormented in some way; but if they have ever heard of the concept of decency and self-control, they wouldn’t do such a thing. If only they have heard of it.
Because those whom we hurt and owed from might be able to exact payment from us in the future. And when that happens, the best thing that we can do is to truly repent, sincerely apologize, and seek to be reconciled. Otherwise, justice will surely take its course. We forgive in order to end ceaseless wars and totally obliterate hate. Because fighting is pointless. But as long as we remain prideful, irrational, belligerent, and aggressive, the weaker party has no choice but to defend themselves with the every ounce of strength that they have until, with God’s help, they may even turn the tables against us.
As long as we can, we mend and make whole again that which was broken. It doesn’t matter if it already has many cracks. Better be that way than for it to stay totally broken. We enhance whatever part is still useful and functional. And from now on, we will only see what is good in our fellowmen and overlook their defects. If they err, we lovingly correct them so that they can change for the better. That way, we can live harmoniously.
If it is still possible to turn back from the trouble we got ourselves into, we do so. Otherwise, there will be no more remedies, no escape. Let us not be lazy about this since we are the ones who put ourselves in such a predicament. We brought this upon ourselves. If we don’t do what’s necessary, the thing that we dread will definitely happen to us. If we refuse to take the initiative, we will have the luxury to sit back and relax while waiting for the day of reckoning.
O what a good thing it is to live without anyone trying to harm us. How wonderful life is without enemies. If ever we are wondering why on earth we came to a point wherein we have made enemies, let us look back and examine ourselves. Maybe we unintentionally offended others or behaved in a way that drew the ire, if not the hatred, of incurable bigots. Maybe at some point, we got cute. Maybe we have been careless and thoughtless in our words and actions. Or most probably, our enemies are simply demon-possessed and what they are doing to us has no valid basis at all.