Abstain from Ill Feelings

Reading Scripture: Romans 12:19-21 

Verse to Memorize: Romans 12:21 

Reference Psalm 37:7-9 Goal: to teach believers to commit all emotional situations to God, not to take revenge or seek vengeance, to control feelings and emotions, and to become God-pleasing children who overcome evil with goodness People often spoil things due to their feelings and emotions. Here the connotation of feelings and emotions does not refer to the good and positive feelings like love and joy. It refers to those that are negative. 

They include ill and hard feelings like complaining or bursting into anger. Because people fail to abstain from such ill feelings, they hurt others' feelings and act in evil seeking revenge. Your ill feelings that can't be controlled causes Satan to interrupt and it will develop a wall of sins between you and God. As said, ill feelings are useless. That is why Ephesians 4:26 reads, "Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger."

• 1. The reason why we must not take our own revenge

People consider it right and proper for them to avenge their parents, teachers, or friends on their enemies. However, God tells us not to take revenge. Romans 12:19 reads, "Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord." Also, God gave the authority of judgment to Jesus Christ as written in John 5:27, so no one but the Lord is qualified to judge others. However there are many people who act like a judge and judge others. They pass judgment on and condemn others very easily. God told us not to grumble and not to speak against one another in the Bible. 

Philippians 2:3 tells us to regard one another as more important than ourselves with humility of mind. Thus, believers in the Lord should serve each other. 'Serving' comes from the heart of regarding others as more important than ourselves. With such a heart, we can't ignore others and do evil such as judging or condemning or slandering. Some believers consider their own opinion completely right and others' all wrong. James 4:11 says, "Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it." Since it is God who gave us the Law, if we speak against brothers and pass judgment as a judge, it is great arrogance and a grave sin. 

Therefore, we must not judge others and take our own revenge on others. We commit it to God because He will take revenge on behalf of us. Then, when our feelings get hurt, what should we do? In our lives, we may be faced with many occasions where our feelings are hurt because of ourselves, our siblings, our family members, coworkers, or our neighbors. Jesus taught us about this saying, "But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. "Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you" (Matthew 5:39-42). 

He also said in Matthew 5:44, "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." If we understand and embrace others just as He taught us, we can abstain from ill feelings. If we try to act thinking of the words in the Bible, we will neither argue with others, nor blame others, nor complain, nor grumble. We can have peace with all men by melting the heart of others.  

• 2. What if we don't abstain from ill feelings?

Emotions may arise due to trifles as well as important matters in our lives. What if you don't control ill feelings and conduct your work and relationships with these emotions in control? Above all, you yourself will have troubles and it will cause problems for many of the people around you, inflicting suffering on them as well. In the Bible there is a person who ruined his life because he failed to abstain from the feeling of jealousy. It was King Saul. He envied his subordinate, David. David achieved continuous victories in every war, so he became so famous that all the Israelites knew who he was. 

People praised and loved David more than King Saul. Saul was a handsome man and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel. He was also the King of Israel, but he couldn't stand when someone else was praised. He also felt anxiety about losing the throne. He thought it would be possible if David took advantage of the people's power. The feeling of jealousy caused him to struggle to keep from losing power and it caused him to fret and worry about it for most of his life. He even hurled his spear at his son Jonathan with anger to strike him down because Jonathan cared for and loved David. Saul ended up failing to abstain from his feelings and used various ways to kill David. Was there peace in his heart while he chased David with his army? Did it not cause chaos throughout the nation? Just because a person failed to control his ill feelings all of his family members and the people of the nation, including himself, suffered.

• 3. We should abstain from ill feeling and commit everything to God

When we commit everything to God and do good, God Himself will judge. The judgment on an evil man, Haman, in the Book of Esther in the Old Testament was such a case. Haman was a servant of a Persian King. He saw that Mordecai did not bow down before him and became furious and harbored ill feelings toward him. He conceived an evil scheme and got a letter from the King to achieve his goal to annihilate all Mordecai's people as well as Mordecai. 

Mordecai and his cousin Esther heard it. They fasted and relied on God in this matter. Though Esther was a Jew, she was the queen of the Persian Kingdom. She went to the King at her peril and implored to the king to save her people. Then, God worked and judged the situation Himself. In the end, the evil man, Haman, was hanged on the gallows he had made to have Mordecai hung. There is an occurrence in the New Testament time. King Herod persecuted the church, had the apostle James put to death by the sword, and he imprisoned the apostle Peter. Then, the church members prayed for Peter earnestly and committed this matter to God. The angel of the Lord came to Peter who was bound with chains and led him out of the prison. 

Then, what happened to Herod who persecuted apostles and did such evil? Acts 12:21-23 reads, "On an appointed day Herod, having put on his royal apparel, took his seat on the rostrum and began delivering an address to them. The people kept crying out, 'The voice of a god and not of a man!' And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died." Herod was judged by God Himself.

• 4. We should overcome evil with goodness It doesn't benefit anyone at all to deal with something out of ill feelings.

In history, many lives were ruined due to ill feelings. A married couple that develops ill feelings toward each over a trivial matter that causes arguments, can lead to separation or divorce. An emotional confrontation among siblings can also cause misunderstandings and even result in enmity among them. However, if we always deal with all matters in goodness, not in ill feelings, God will take the responsibility for the matters. Even though other people do evil due to their ill feelings, if they are treated with goodness, peace can be maintained with anybody. 

If we have peace with people, we don't have to suffer from others. If we love, understand, and pray for others with love, though they criticize and do evil to us, we don't have any reason to suffer. Therefore, we should never have confrontations with family members, neighbors, and people in work place due to ill feelings. We must overcome evil with goodness. We should abstain from ill feelings and just commit it to God with prayer and fasting. Then, God will bless us to prosper in everything and to get loved and recognized by others. God searches for such a good heart. When someone hurts your feelings, do you turn red-faced with anger and harbor ill feelings? You should check to see if you have had enmity with others due to ill feelings or if you have judged others acting like a judge and tried to take a speck out of a brother's eye though you have a log in yours. 

Psalm 37:7-9 reads, "Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger and forsake wrath; do not fret; it leads only to evildoing. For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land." I hope you will commit everything to God who judges every matter in justice according to what men have done. By abstaining from ill feelings and negative emotions and acting in only goodness and love may you will always go the way of blessings.

Jiepushe na Hisia Mbaya

Soma: Warumi 12:19-21

Mstari wa kukariri: Warumi 12:21

Marejeo: Zaburi 37:7-9. Lengo: kuwafundisha waumini kumkabidhi Mungu hali zote zinazohusisha hisia, kutolipiza kisasi, kudhibiti hisia na kuwa watoto wanaompendeza Mungu kwa kuushinda uovu kwa wema.

Watu huharibu mambo kwa kufuata hisia zao. Hapa hatuzungumzii hisia nzuri kama upendo na furaha, bali hisia mbaya kama kunung’unika na kulipuka kwa hasira. Tusipojiepusha na hisia mbaya, tunawaumiza wengine na kutenda uovu kwa kulipiza kisasi. Hisia zisizodhibitiwa humpa Shetani nafasi ya kuingilia na kujenga ukuta wa dhambi kati yetu na Mungu. Hisia mbaya hazina faida; Waefeso 4:26 husema, “Mwe na hasira, ila msitende dhambi; jua lisichwe na uchungu wenu bado haujawatoka.”

• 1. Kwa nini tusilipize kisasi wenyewe

Watu hufikiri ni sahihi kulipiza kisasi kwa niaba ya wazazi, walimu au marafiki. Lakini Mungu hutuambia tusilipize kisasi. Warumi 12:19 husema, “Wapenzi, msijilipize kisasi, bali ipisheni ghadhabu ya Mungu; maana imeandikwa, Kisasi ni juu yangu mimi; mimi nitalipa, anena Bwana.” Mungu alimpa Yesu Kristo mamlaka ya kuhukumu (Yohana 5:27); ni Bwana pekee aliye na sifa ya kuwahukumu wengine. Hata hivyo, wengi hujifanya mahakimu na kuwahukumu au kuwalaumu wengine. Biblia hutuambia tusinung’unikiane wala kusema vibaya juu ya ndugu zetu.

Wafilipi 2:3 hutuambia kwa unyenyekevu tuwahesabu wengine kuwa bora kuliko sisi. Kwa hiyo waumini wanapaswa kutumiana; kutumikia kunatokana na kuwahesabu wengine kuwa muhimu kuliko sisi. Moyo huo hauturuhusu kuwadharau au kufanya uovu kama kuwahukumu, kuwalaumu au kuwasingizia. Wengine hufikiri maoni yao ni sahihi kabisa na ya wengine si sahihi. Yakobo 4:11 husema tusiseme vibaya juu ya ndugu; anayemsema au kumhukumu ndugu huinena vibaya sheria na kuihukumu. Mungu ndiye aliyetupa Sheria; kujifanya hakimu na kuwahukumu ndugu ni kiburi kikubwa na dhambi nzito.

Kwa hiyo, tusiwahukumu wengine wala kujilipizia kisasi; tumwachie Mungu kwa kuwa atalipiza kwa niaba yetu. Hisia zetu zinapoumizwa, tufanye nini? Tunaweza kuumizwa na ndugu, familia, wafanyakazi wenzetu au majirani. Yesu alisema tusimpinge mtu mwovu; akupigaye shavu la kuume mgeuzie na la pili, anayetaka shati akupe na joho pia, na akulazimishaye kwenda maili moja nenda naye mbili (Mathayo 5:39-42). Pia alisema tuwapende adui zetu na kuwaombea wanaotuudhi (Mathayo 5:44). Tukielewa na kukumbatia wengine kama Yesu alivyotufundisha, tutaepuka hisia mbaya. Tukitenda kulingana na Biblia, hatutabishana, kulaumu, kulalamika wala kunung’unika. Tunaweza kuishi kwa amani na wote na kulainisha mioyo yao.

• 2. Nini hutokea tusipojiepusha na hisia mbaya?

Hisia zinaweza kuchochewa na jambo dogo au kubwa. Tusipozidhibiti na kuruhusu ziongoze kazi na mahusiano yetu, kwanza sisi wenyewe tutapata shida, kisha tutasababisha matatizo na mateso kwa watu wengi wanaotuzunguka. Mfalme Sauli aliharibu maisha yake kwa kushindwa kujiepusha na wivu. Alimwonea wivu Daudi, aliyekuwa chini yake. Daudi alipata ushindi katika vita na akajulikana na Waisraeli wote.

Watu walimsifu na kumpenda Daudi kuliko Sauli. Sauli alikuwa mtu mzuri wa sura na mfalme wa Israeli, lakini hakuvumilia mtu mwingine kusifiwa. Aliogopa kupoteza kiti cha enzi na akadhani Daudi angeweza kutumia nguvu ya watu dhidi yake. Wivu ukamfanya ajitahidi kushikilia mamlaka na kuwa na wasiwasi karibu maisha yake yote. Kwa hasira hata akarusha mkuki kumwangamiza mwanawe Yonathani kwa sababu Yonathani alimpenda Daudi. Sauli alishindwa kudhibiti hisia na akatafuta njia mbalimbali za kumwua Daudi. Je, alikuwa na amani alipomfukuza Daudi na jeshi? Hali hiyo haikuleta vurugu katika taifa? Kwa sababu mtu mmoja hakudhibiti hisia mbaya, yeye, familia yake na watu wote wa taifa waliteseka.

• 3. Tujiepushe na hisia mbaya na kumkabidhi Mungu kila jambo

Tukimkabidhi Mungu kila jambo na kutenda mema, yeye mwenyewe atahukumu. Haman, mtu mwovu katika Esta, alihukumiwa hivyo. Haman alikuwa mtumishi wa mfalme wa Uajemi. Alikasirika na kuwa na uchungu alipoona Mordekai hakumsujudia; akapanga njama mbaya na kupata barua ya mfalme ya kuwaangamiza watu wote wa Mordekai.

Mordekai na binamu yake Esta wakasikia habari hizo, wakafunga na kumtegemea Mungu. Ingawa Esta alikuwa Myahudi, alikuwa malkia wa Uajemi. Kwa kuhatarisha maisha yake alimwendea mfalme na kumsihi awaokoe watu wake. Mungu akatenda na kuhukumu hali hiyo; Haman akatundikwa kwenye mti wa kunyongea alioutayarisha kwa Mordekai. Katika Agano Jipya, Mfalme Herode aliliudhi kanisa, akamwua Yakobo kwa upanga na kumfunga Petro. Waumini wakamwombea Petro kwa bidii na kumkabidhi Mungu jambo hilo. Malaika wa Bwana akaja kwa Petro aliyefungwa minyororo na kumwongoza kutoka gerezani.

Matendo 12:21-23 husema Herode alivaa mavazi ya kifalme, akaketi kwenye kiti na kutoa hotuba. Watu wakapiga kelele, “Ni sauti ya mungu, si ya mwanadamu!” Kwa kuwa hakumpa Mungu utukufu, malaika wa Bwana akampiga; akaliwa na chango na kufa. Mungu mwenyewe alimchukulia hatua Herode aliyewatesa mitume na kutenda uovu.

• 4. Tushinde uovu kwa wema

Kushughulikia jambo kwa hisia mbaya hakuna faida kwa mtu yeyote. Katika historia, maisha mengi yameharibika kwa hisia hizo. Wanandoa wakishikilia uchungu kuhusu jambo dogo na kugombana, wanaweza kutengana au kuachana. Mzozo wa kihisia kati ya ndugu unaweza kusababisha kutoelewana na uadui. Lakini tukishughulikia kila jambo kwa wema badala ya hisia mbaya, Mungu atawajibika. Hata wengine wakitenda uovu kwa uchungu, tukiitikia kwa wema tunaweza kudumisha amani nao.

Tukiwa na amani na watu hatutaumia kwa sababu yao. Tukiwapenda, kuwaelewa na kuwaombea, hata wakitukosoa na kututendea mabaya, hatutakuwa na sababu ya kuteseka. Tusigombane na familia, majirani wala wafanyakazi wenzetu kwa sababu ya hisia mbaya. Tushinde uovu kwa wema; tujiepushe na uchungu na kumkabidhi Mungu kwa maombi na kufunga. Atatubariki tufanikiwe katika mambo yote na tupendwe na kutambuliwa na wengine. Mungu hutafuta moyo mwema. Mtu akikuumiza, unajawa hasira na kuhifadhi uchungu? Chunguza kama hisia mbaya zimekuingiza katika uadui au umewahukumu wengine huku ukiwa na kibanzi katika jicho lao na boriti katika lako.

Zaburi 37:7-9 hutuambia tupumzike katika Bwana na kumngoja kwa saburi, tusiwe na wasiwasi kwa sababu ya mtu atendaye uovu; tuache hasira kwa kuwa huongoza kwenye uovu. Watenda maovu wataangamizwa, lakini wanaomngoja Bwana watairithi nchi. Mkabidhi Mungu kila jambo; yeye huhukumu kwa haki kulingana na matendo ya watu. Jiepushe na hisia mbaya na matendo hasi, utende kwa wema na upendo ili utembee katika njia ya baraka daima.