Four-Part Harmony Series

How are we to behave towards someone who insults us, lies to us or about us, and tries to ruin our reputation with others? Are we supposed to respond just like them? Are we supposed to insult them in return with an even better cutting insult? Do we defend ourselves when we are attacked verbally or maybe through an email or social media posting?

* Sympathy means we prayerfully place ourselves in the shoes of the person who is doing the insulting and the lying. When we do that, we arrest judgmental attitudes we may have and might see a reason of why they are acting the way they are. Not an excuse, but we can understand and may find a way to encourage peace with them.

* Love means we do not respond in the same way they have attacked us. Love means when we think of them, we ask God to change any anger, hate, resentment, or short-tempers we have with someone to love that will persevere through the problem.

* Compassion means we actively do something loving. Complement them. Send a gift. Return their hostility with a blessing. By the way, this can be fun. Proverbs 25:21-22 says, “ If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. 22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.” Just knowing every time you bless someone when they curse you hurts them might be a weird way to get back at them. Plus we get a reward from God. Win win.

* Humbleness means we give up our rights to get back at someone or to make the insults or lies even. Humbleness means we submit to God’s will in conflict even if it seems like we get the raw end of the deal and it is unfair.

ILLUSTRATION… Insulting (p)

I once told someone they were a “bitter old evil man” in the presence of his family after he got done berating me and telling me I was not a Christian.

I once stood silent in a room with 60 people after listening to 10 minutes of someone insulting me for something I had not even done. Not one person defended me or challenged the insults even though they knew the truth.

I have a choice. I want to be who Jesus calls me to be. I want to practice four-part harmony.

III. HARMONY WITH NOT FAIR NORMAN (VERSES 12-14, 17)

READ 1 Peter 3:12-14

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." 13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened."

READ 1 Peter 3:17

“It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.”

The second one that I saw for us is having harmony with “Not Fair Norman.” Verse 12 describes evil happening. Verse 14 points out directly that it is possible to suffer for doing good. It is possible that things would be unfair or people will be unfair for no reason. Verse 14 also points out that sometimes people act unfairly because of fear.