day 739: Retaliation

"He did not retaliate when he was insulted. When he suffered, he did not threaten to get even. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly."

Not a week goes by that we don't read about one company suing another for something. Usually the litigation is a form of retaliation for some infringement or action that was threatening. Corporations can have large legal departments who are there to just retaliate. When you are a little business or an entrepreneur this can be intimidating and frightening, even when you haven't done anything wrong. I was with an entrepreneur the other day who is getting cease and desist letters for the use of a trademark that he received well in advance of the other, big company, even being in business. When he ignored that letter they sent another threatening to sue him if he didn't surrender the trademark to them. Fortunately, he had an attorney, and all of his ducks in order, and the big company didn't have any legs to stand on other than bravado. We are in a litigious age where the fastest form of retaliation can be a lawsuit. It's a shame that we have to live and work like this, but it is what it is.

As we work and live, we do have a choice though to not retaliate and to roll with the punches. We have to look no further than driving to and from work to see lots of retaliation going on. The obscene gesture or even the raised hand as to question why someone would drive like they are, is a form or retaliation. In the office the sly look, or the mumbled words under the breath, or the cc to the boss on the email can all be forms or retaliation. But see, as believers we are not to retaliate, even when we are wronged or are suffering. We have an example to follow and if we don't then we are degrading and disrespecting the Lord who suffered for us, who took the worst for us, and who gave it all for us. What we read in 1 Peter is all true. He never retaliated and if He didn't then there is no reason that we ever should.

Reference: 1 Peter 2:23 (New Living Testament)