Darius tiptoed closer to his prey. He smiled at the thought of taking revenge on the one who taunted him like a cat playing with its captured mouse. Teasing until finally putting it out of its misery.

He bent over the sleeping figure and gently lifted the prized NY Yankees cap from the boy’s head. The loud snore stopped. Did the tree house king sense his presence? Darius held his breath and exhaled when the sawing continued.

Darius glanced at his friends waiting at the bottom of the tree. They motioned with their hands as if to say, “Do it.”

Darius pulled the scissors from his back pocket and leaned over his older brother—the one who needed to be put into his place. Stephen did everything he could to make Darius the laughing stock of their school.

It was time for revenge. Teach this bully a lesson.

Darius inched the blades closer to Stephen’s curly locks. Just as Darius was about to cut, his mother’s voice ran through his mind.

“Darius, remember the saying it’s only funny until someone’s eye gets poked out.”

A vision of scissors protruding from his brother’s eye plagued him and he snapped his hand back.

“I can’t do it,” he said.

Stephen stirred and sat. He glared. “What are you doing, little brother?”

Darius raised the hat in one hand and the scissors in the other. “See how close I came to you? I could have cut your hair, but I couldn’t.”

Stephen’s jaw dropped. “You had your chance for revenge but didn’t take it? Why?”

“It wasn’t worth it. And besides, Mom would have killed me.”

Stephen ruffled Darius’ hair. “You got that right.”

They chuckled.

Have you ever had the chance for revenge? Did you take it?

David had the perfect opportunity to stop Saul’s endless pursuit of him. After all, the King was trying to kill him. Didn’t David have every right?

Most would say yes but not David. Saul was his beloved King. He loved him too much.

What can we learn from David’s actions?

This one is simple.

The consequences were too great. As much as he probably wanted to do it, David decided in the end it wouldn’t be worth it. He’d be arrested and killed for taking King Saul’s life. Also, David’s best friend was Saul’s son. I’m sure that weighed heavily on David’s mind. What would happen if you took your revenge? Is it really worth it? 

Others were watching. David’s men watched from the sidelines. What kind of witness would he be if he gave in and took his revenge? What would it teach his followers? That it was okay to kill? Remember others, including non-believers, are watching your every move. That alone should make us think twice.

David knew it wasn’t his place to take revenge but God’s. The Father would judge Saul one day. David backed away from the temptation of revenge because he knew it wasn’t his job. How about we do the same thing?

They say revenge is sweet, but I beg to differ. It only causes heartache, consequences, and bad feelings.

How about we learn from David and step away. Leave the vengeance to God.

You won’t regret it.

Tell us about a time when you could have taken revenge but didn’t? Or be honest, tell us about a time when you did. What were the consequences? Was it worth it? Share in the comments section. 

1 Samuel 24:13 (The Message)

“God may avenge me, but it is in his hands, not mine. An old proverb says, ‘Evil deeds come from evil people.’ So be assured that my hand won’t touch you.” 

Revenge by Switchfoot

WARNING: This video shows clips from the movie Passion of the Christ so it’s quite graphic and not for the faint at heart. However, it depicts the revenge man took out on Christ.