«Do not say, ‘I will recompense evil’; wait for the Lord, and He will save you» (Proverbs 20:22).
INTEGRITY
William Shakespeare writes about the love of money and the scope of hatred in The Merchant of Venice. Shylock is a Jewish moneylender who’s well liked by society. His job has earned him a respectable fortune. However, he loses his reason for living after his daughter runs away with her boyfriend, stealing a good part of his fortune from him. Blinded by hatred and a spirit of vengeance, he only wants to live to kill Antonio, a merchant who’s fallen into misfortune and who at some point despised the Jew. Shylock lent Antonio three thousand ducats on condition that if he was unable to pay the loan, he would charge him a pound of his flesh closest to the heart, all done to avenge the merchant’s derogatory attitude. Although the payment was absurd, they agree on the terms and sign before a notary. Antonio loses all his investments and can’t pay the loan. Then, the moneylender demands payment as stipulated in the contract. The case goes to court where it is ruled that Shylock can collect what was stipulated: a pound of flesht, but without a drop of blood. Shylock then asks for double the money, but his demand is denied and he cannot enforce the contract and loses his fortune, without being able to kill Anthony, without his wealth and without his daughter.
It’s amazing how there are people who live to destroy other people’s lives. They don’t mind lying, insulting or slandering others; nothing stops them as long as they can crush those they consider their enemies; they’re looking for a way to channel their hatred and frustration. The fact that someone’s gone through hardships doesn’t justify aggressive behavior toward others. Living to destroy our fellow men isn’t worth it. «Far better would it be for us to suffer under false accusation than to inflict upon ourselves the torture of retaliation upon our enemies. The spirit of hatred and revenge originated with Satan, and can bring only evil to him who cherishes it. Lowliness of heart, that meekness which is the fruit of abiding in Christ, is the true secret of blessing»—Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, ch. 2, P. 17.
The Apostle Paul says, «Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord» (Romans 12:19). Don’t allow hatred to take over your heart. Let the love of God heal your wounds and fill yourself with His Word. The Lord will pay each one according to His just judgment.
Ask the Lord today to do away with resentment in your heart.
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Take From: Daily Devotions for Youth 2020
«A New You»
From: Alejandro Medina Villareal
Collaborators: Gezer Noria & Misael Morillo
