When people have wronged us, there can be all sorts of things that go through our minds that perhaps we would like to do to bring disgrace into their lives. Recently, I had a Christian brother take advantage of my good nature by agreeing to pay rent for his room in the amount of $500 per month and then he stiffed me. He lived with me for over six months and fell behind on his payments. As the story goes, he moved out owing me one month’s rent and assured me that he would pay me. That was several months ago and he has not returned even one of my thirty or so phone calls. I wrestled with the thought of contacting his pastor and decided not to after the Lord brought this verse to my attention.
Matt 1:18-19
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph, her husband, was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
When I read that Joseph did not want to expose Mary to public disgrace, I dropped the idea of meeting with this man’s pastor and bringing shame upon my ex-roommate. Our passage says that Joseph was a righteous man. That’s what I would like to be also, a righteous man. There are specific ways of handling difficult people that God would have us do or not do. Prayer is the best way to start dealing with troublesome people and situations.
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