Introduction
It can be tempting to feel a sense of satisfaction or even joy when someone who has wronged us or opposed us experiences a downfall or misfortune. After all, it may feel like justice being served or karma coming back around. However, the wise counsel found in Proverbs 24:17-18 advises against this type of response: “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.”
Why Rejoicing is Unwise
There are a few important reasons why we should resist the urge to rejoice over our enemy’s downfall:
1. It Reflects a Hardness of Heart: Feeling joy at someone else’s misery, even if they have wronged us, reveals a lack of compassion and forgiveness in our own hearts. As followers of Christ, we are called to have a soft heart that extends grace, not a hardened heart that delights in others’ suffering.
2. It Can Invite God’s Displeasure: The proverb warns that God may see our rejoicing and be displeased. When we exhibit a vindictive spirit, it can hinder God’s work of redemption in the life of our enemy. Rejoicing over an enemy’s downfall may be seen by God as a betrayal of the commandment to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.
3. It Holds Us Back from Reconciliation: If we cannot let go of our resentment, it becomes very difficult to pursue genuine forgiveness and restoration of the relationship. Rejoicing over an enemy’s fall only deepens the divide between us and makes it harder to rebuild bridges. True peace and healing can only come through extending grace and mercy, not through vindictiveness.
The wisest path forward is to respond to our enemies with compassion, not celebration. While it may be natural to feel a sense of satisfaction when those who have wronged us face consequences, we must resist the urge to rejoice. Instead, we should pray for their restoration and healing, and look for opportunities to extend forgiveness and work towards reconciliation. This is the way of Christ, and it is the surest path to lasting peace and wholeness, both for ourselves and for our relationships.
A Better Response
Instead of rejoicing, the wiser response is to have empathy and pray for our enemies. We should desire their repentance and restoration, not their destruction.
Romans 12:20-21 “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Responding with compassion and kindness, even towards those who have wronged us, can actually be more effective than rejoicing in their downfall. When we overcome evil with good, it can soften the heart of our enemy and open the door for reconciliation. Heaping “burning coals” on their head is not a call for vengeance, but a metaphor for the conviction and remorse that our gracious response may provoke.
By praying for our enemies and genuinely desiring their restoration, we align ourselves with God’s heart. The Lord takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but desires that they turn from their ways and live (Ezekiel 33:11). As his followers, we should have the same mindset – not reveling in punishment, but pleading for transformation.
Cultivating empathy is important, as it helps us see our enemies as fellow human beings, equally in need of God’s grace. When we can view them through the lens of compassion, it becomes easier to extend forgiveness and seek reconciliation, rather than retaliation.
Additionally, responding with grace and mercy, rather than gloating, keeps our own hearts soft and tender. Rejoicing in someone else’s downfall can harden us and make it more difficult for God to work in our own lives. But by choosing the path of empathy and restoration, we remain open to the transformative power of the gospel.
The wisest response is to overcome evil with good. This honors God, blesses our enemies, and preserves the possibility of reconciliation. It’s a challenging call, but one that leads to true and lasting peace.
Read also: 5 Steps: How to find God in your life
Conclusion
It is natural to feel a sense of satisfaction when someone who has harmed us experiences consequences. However, as followers of Christ, we are called to a higher standard. By resisting the urge to rejoice over our enemy’s fall, and instead responding with compassion and a desire for their redemption, we can demonstrate the transformative power of the gospel and overcome evil with good.
