We have all experienced the hurt of mistreatment and misunderstanding. Such hurts come in a variety of packages: an intolerable working situation, domestic conflicts, a parent, child, or relative who takes advantage of us, a friend who turns against us, a neighbour who entertains untrue opinions of us, and dozens of other painful circumstances. Our natural tendency is to retaliate by returning evil for evil—to “get back”—to hold a grudge and become bitter in our souls.

God has a better idea! James reveals this alternative in the passage we're considering within this message. James not only tells us what to do in place of retaliation; he tells us how to do it.