Winston Salem church of Christ

Every one of us has been wrong.  Every one of us has wronged somebody.  And every one of us has been wronged.  What do we react to being mistreated?  Remembering that we have wronged others, and remembering the times when we were wrong, can help us in handling being the recipient of such bad behavior.  Too often we are not much different from our tormentors.  Also helpful is learning from Jeremiah, who like us, had been wronged, and would be wronged, and be wronged in ways beyond any mistreatment most of us have endured.  How did he react?  Notice Jeremiah’s upbeat and upright prayer to being wronged as found in Jeremiah 17:16-18.

What are right reactions to being wronged?

#1 - Right Reaction to Being Wronged #1 – Keep Right Action: Do Not Stop WorkingJer.17:16a – But as for me, I have not hurried away from being a shepherd after You, 

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to quit when criticized; to get down when put down; and to stop working when others stop supporting?  We give up on God when others give up on us.  We also give up on ourselves.  And yet, think through this with me…if we give up when others try to get us down, aren’t we allowing them to win?  Aren’t we giving Satan the victory?  Right doesn’t cease being right just because we are wronged.  Keep working even when wronged.

#2 – Right Reaction to Being Wronged #2 – Keep Right Attitude: Do Not HateJer.17:16b – Nor have I longed for the woeful day; You Yourself know that the utterance of my lips Was in Your presence. 

Again, have you ever noticed how we want to hurt those who hurt us?  If we aren’t turning away and quitting, too often we are turning on and fighting.  Hurt turns into hate.  And then hate turns into hurt.  It is a vicious cycle that can only be disrupted by loving our enemies.  Jeremiah refused to hate those who hated him, by wishing their harm.  Jeremiah did not want to hurt those who hurt him.  Do not hate even when hurt.

 #3 – Right Reaction to Being Wronged #3 – Recognize God’s Right to ProtectJer.17:17 – Do not be a terror to me; You are my refuge in the day of disaster. 

Can God protect me?  Does God want to protect me?  The answer is yes and again yes… and yet we know all too painfully well that often God does not.  And then there is a void filled with questions, and doubt.  But…it is essential that we recognize it is God’s right to help – and His right not to help.  Recognizing God has the right to protect us when we are wronged, gives us confidence because then we can also know positively that if He chooses not to – He has a reason.  But equally important is the hope that He will help…even if it is not right now.  Maybe tomorrow…or the next day.  It is God’s right.  While it is always difficult living with questions of why not; being wronged is handled more rightly living with hope of help.

#4 – Right Reaction to Being Wronged #4 – Recognize God’s Right to Punish Jer.17:18 – Let those who persecute me be put to shame but as for me, let me not be put to shame; Let them be dismayed, but let me not be dismayed.  Bring on them a day of disaster, And crush them with twofold destruction!  

Jeremiah recognized their need for punishment (v.16), but did not desire it.  What He did desire was that justice be done – both to him and to those hurting him.  There is a fine line between wanting justice, and wanting to hurt back.  When wronged, recognize that punishment is right.  Want justice, but not vengeance.

Every one of us has been wronged.  Let’s react rightly.

 Perry D. Hall