Proverbs 24:17-18 “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.”
DO NOT WISH EVIL
Don’t you love it when the good guy wins, and the bad guy loses? Come on! You know you do. Think about it. Who wants the bad guys to win? But our verses today tell us not to rejoice when the bad guys go down.
Well, it doesn’t exactly say that. What it means is we should not gloat or boast when enemies fall or stumble. As hard as it may seem, God loves them too. He desires for all men to be saved. That includes them. So, when God does punish them, we should be thankful but not feel superior or more worthy. God is just honoring His Word.
TEACHING MOMENT
Boy, children really need to learn this. I bet your child has come home saying, “Man, that bully at school today really got it! He is in so much trouble.” What an opportunity to talk with your child about why that bully might be a bully. Perhaps his parents aren’t together. Maybe he has been abused or hurt by someone. We just don’t know, for sure.
Instead of rejoicing, lead your son or daughter to pray for that “enemy.” Help them find out how to pray for them. Now, I know some kids are just mean, but God still loves them and desires them to know Him. Teach your child to be that Jesus to them.
Who in your life right now do you need to pray for? Who has been your enemy? Why are they? Ask the Lord how you can pray for them. Be Jesus to that fallen enemy. Maybe at this precise moment they are the most receptive to the Gospel.
