June 25, 2022 – Words of Wisdom, Napoleon Bonaparte

“Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.”   Napoleon Bonaparte

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.  And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.  If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.  Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?  Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:38-48

OK – so maybe using Napoleon’s thoughts and words as a source of wisdom may seem counter-intuitive. But if you noticed, the scripture lesson from Matthew I have chosen does not encourage us to watch our enemy self-destruct (as per the wisdom of Napoleon) – but instead reminds us that we are to love our enemies, not watch with glee when they self-destruct. There are too many people who still believe that “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” is the biblical instruction for dealing with our enemies. Jesus turned that scriptural teaching on its head in the Sermon on the Mount.

Now, of course, hating someone is easy, while loving someone with the love of G-d is hard. And in some instances, loving someone is almost impossible.  For example, we have had people in this world, people like Napoleon, like Hitler, and like Genghis Khan who did things in this world that made it hard for people to love them. You may have someone in your live right now that you just cannot bring yourself to love, because they have either abandoned you, or hurt you, or offended you, etc. Hating them is so much easier. Jesus knew that – but Jesus also knew the love that is G-d – so Jesus knew that love always trumps hate.  Yes, evil and hate are so easy – so easy.  But love takes something more – and that something is the love of G-d. It will take knowing the love of G-d before we can love in the name of G-d.

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, the love of your Father is as easy as looking upon the cross – knowing that You died because G-d so loved this broken world. Help me to remember that G-d continues to love the world and love me and all people. Amen.

Pastor Dave