¹⁷ Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. ¹⁸ If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

The righteous man shall live by faith” (Rom 1:17b)—this challenge, which is fleshed out in chapter 12, goes against all “natural” instincts. Naturalists tell us, and we have all been taught all our lives, that self-preservation is the strongest of human tendencies, and that at times it justifies circumventing otherwise moral behavior. In the pre-fall environment, this was not an issue because there was no threat on Adam and Eve’s lives. That is, until they attempted to rise up against God in imitation of Satan, who thought in his heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High” (Is 14:13–14). They exalted “self” over God by taking the forbidden fruit to “be like God” (Gen 3:5); evil thus came into the world.

The result was that Adam blamed Eve in attempt to avert God’s judgment and avoid admitting his own culpability. He saw Eve as the enemy, so to speak—she created the circumstantial mess he was in with God. Let her take the fall. This was nothing more than man’s feeble attempt at self-preservation! This tendency continued in their children, when Cain paid back his guilt for an inadequate, displeasing sacrifice by killing Abel. He apparently saw Abel as the enemy for offering a pleasing sacrifice to God. Killing Abel was payback.

The “justified by faith” person who now “lives by faith” is equipped and motivated to turn his back on the payback mentality. The Spirit of God teaches here, “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone.” That holds true for all wrongdoing committed against you, whether intentional or unintentional. That’s hard, but not impossible, for “[w]ith people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matt 19:26) and “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13).

When people do bad stuff to us, our response should be based not on revenge, bitterness or anger, but on what is right “in the sight of all men.” This means not simply doing what is right, but doing it in a way that is clearly seen to be right. As Peter rejoins, “… keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame” (1 Peter 3:16). This is the way to be at peace with all people, as much as is within your power.

Lord, this is the hardest thing for me to do, but I ask Your help to enable me to return good for evil.