The high cost of getting even

We have heard some people say, “I am going to get even with that so-and-so if it is the last thing that I ever do,” after they have been hurt or wronged in some way. You may have made this statement in the past yourself. It has gone through my mind before, and I could see what it was doing to me.

Sometimes, we all make statements like this in a flash of anger but do not really mean them. In most cases, the situation passes, and we are able to recover emotionally without too much damage. However, there are some situations where the people involved really do mean it and their emotions begin to “fester” and over a period of time, it takes a heavy toll.

Some doctors have done a great deal of research about the attitude of “getting even” and have concluded that ulcers, high blood pressure, strokes and many other physical maladies are connected to harboring resentment, hatred and ill will toward others. They say that it could be truthfully written on many death certificates that the victim died from “grudgetitis.”

The doctors make a good case to show how hatred enslaves the one who hates by employing the following, “The moment I started hating a man, I became his slave. I cannot enjoy my work anymore because he even controls my thoughts. My resentments produce too many stresses to my body, and I become fatigued after a few hours of work.”

Hatred, like many of our other emotions, comes in degrees. The range can be all the way from a mild dislike to a deep burning desire to see the other person completely done in. But in some cases, hatred will result in violence, which means running afoul of the law. When this happens, and a person is convicted of a criminal offense, it means that he has lost the opportunity to have complete control over his life.

In this interest of helping ourselves be happier and more successful, we need to be honest with ourselves and determine in our hearts whether or not we really hate another person. If we do, then we should know what the long-range consequences could be.

There is only one solution to this universal problem, and it is found in these words that were spoken by Jesus. He said, “You have heard that it was said that you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy, but I say unto you, love your enemy and pray for them that despitefully use you.”

Whether we like it or not, the only thing that will free us of hatred is complete and total forgiveness. The biggest problem in this area that most of us face can be found in the answer to this question, “Who is our neighbor?”

Hating people is like burning down the barn in order to get rid of the rats. It is a case of the solution being much worse than the problem.

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