Revenge ...

A huge grizzly bear was in the center of a clearing feeding on some discarded camp food. For several minutes, he feasted alone – no other creature dared draw near. After a few moments, a skunk walked up and began to feast as well. The bear did not object to the skunk eating his food and I think that we all know why. The grizzly bear knew the high cost of getting even.

We would be wise to learn the same.

Settling the score is done at great expense. Have you ever noticed that in the old western movies, the bounty hunter travels alone? Why is that? Because no one wants to hang out with a person who settles the score for a living. That is such a huge thought for anyone with a mind and an itch to paint themselves purple. You cannot share Jesus with someone if that someone desires to be close to someone else because being close to you feels unhealthy and dysfunctional in the sense that you are constantly preoccupied with getting even. Someone must want to hang out with you for that someone to hear about Jesus from you.

Do you sometimes wonder why someone does not want to hang out with you? Could it be that you are preoccupied with revenge?

Is it any wonder why Job writes this in Job 5:2, "To worry yourself to death with resentment would be a foolish, senseless thing to do." (The Living Bible)

God is asking us to paint ourselves purple. We cannot do that when we are preoccupied with revenge.