For me, 1 Thessalonians 5:15 underscores the reality that God asks more of us than we can do on our own. It reads like this in the Christian Standard Bible, “See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.” What? Pursue what is good for someone who has done evil to me? Isn’t it enough to refrain from taking revenge? Apparently not.
Some translations use the word “seek” instead of “pursue,” but the Greek word really does mean pursue. There is an active element to this word—in some contexts it is translated “persecute.” God does not just desire that I refrain from returning evil for evil. He wants me actively engaged benefiting those who have done evil to me.
On the cross, Jesus was able to say, “Father, forgive them.” I don’t think I could—at least not apart from his grace. God has often convicted me of my attitude when I’ve been merely irritated or inconvenienced. I’m not a person who would be naturally forgiving when faced with significant pain. His word, however, is unchanging. He doesn’t say, “Pursue what is good, unless someone has treated you wrongly.” How can I obey this call?
Corrie ten Boom tells the story of meeting a prison guard after World War II. She recognized him from the prison camp she had been in during the war. The guard thanked her for her message about God’s forgiveness and wanted to shake her hand. She realized she had no love for this person and no desire to shake his hand. She confessed it to God, and as she shook the guard’s hand she experienced God’s love flowing through her for this man. This story illustrates one way God can empower us to desire the welfare of someone who has wronged us—we confess; he provides.
1 Thessalonians 5:15 appears in a context, and I think that context can also aid us in knowing how to obey God’s call. The next three verses say this: “Rejoice always! Pray constantly. Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” These verses say we are to rejoice and give thanks—regardless of life’s circumstances. My ability to rejoice and give thanks is directly related to my perspective on my circumstances. If I cannot rejoice and give thanks, I need to remember there is a verse between these two calls: “pray constantly.” I can ask God how he wants me to view the way someone has treated me. Until I can rejoice and give thanks, I am not seeing what God wants me to see. James says if we lack wisdom we can ask of God—who gives it generously. The context for these words is seeking God’s wisdom as we “consider it all joy when faced with various trials.” God’s wisdom can be an antidote to my anger when I am treated wrongly.
God’s sufficiency and God’s wisdom make all the difference in my being able to obey his call. There are Christians who are currently facing significant persecution—who are being called to pursue good for those who are continually doing evil toward them. While this is not my regular experience, I believe God calls me to take this message to heart—there are plenty of people who irritate or annoy me. I can practice blessing those who bug me and let God use it to help me be prepared to rely on him if I’m personally faced with evil.