There’s an old saying that goes something like this…”Don’t wrestle with a pig.  You both get dirty and the pig liked it.”  Earlier today my family and I made a trip into one of our local cities for a doctor’s appointment and a few other errands.  It’s not uncommon for us to make a few shopping stops here and there on these trips because my wife happens to be the smartest and thriftiest shopper in all the land.  On one particular stop, the kids and I decided to wait in the car as she checked a couple of places for things she needed.

After only a few minutes, another family pulled into the parking space next to us and prepared to enter the store themselves.  By this time, my beautiful wife is making her way back to our vehicle just in time to notice that the matriarch of this family decided to toss her used tissue into the exposed bed of my truck.  After sharing with me what she witnessed, I immediately became frustrated and shocked when I considered the guts and gall of this individual and their contentment to do such a thing.  I stepped out of the truck, looked into the bed and, sure enough, the crumpled evidence sat there baking in the sun on a hot July afternoon in Georgia.  I watched that family walk into the store and, fortunately for me, the Holy Spirit and the still small voice of my wife persuaded me to keep my mouth shut and just let it go.

Romans 12:17 says, “Repay no one evil for evil.  Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.”  When we are wronged by another, we believe in our heart that a debt is now owed to us.  It’s just human nature.  That debt could be an admission of wrong, an apology that consists of asking for forgiveness or even restitution.  Trust me when I say that, in my flesh, I wanted all three!  But, as is the case most of the time, the advice of the Holy Spirit and my wife sounded much more plausible and beneficial than what I had in mind.

If I had challenged this individual about their actions, there is no doubt that they would have become defensive, if not indignant, shocked even that I would dare confront them about a perceived wrong which, by clear evidence was not perceived at all but factual in every way.  Because of the fact that I passed the exit to calm and serenity five minutes earlier, their refusal to admit their fault may have pushed me over the edge.  This would have no doubt led to an escalated incident from which nothing good could ever come.  Could you imagine the headline?  LOCAL PASTOR ARRESTED FOR SCUFFLE OVER DISRESPECTFULLY DISCARDED USED TISSUE WHICH POSSIBLY CONTAINED COVID-19!  Perish the thought.

It’s important to remember that our words and actions speak louder than we think.  This truth applies to everyone…yes, even Christians.  I could have proven a point…made a big deal out of things…showed myself…but at what cost?  I do believe that we should stand up for ourselves.  I do believe we should stand up for what is right.  I do believe that there is a time and a place to confront people in love and make an effort to right possible wrongs and injustices.  However, as the Holy Spirit and my wife have taught me, it is futile, pointless and detrimental to wrestle with pigs.

When all is said and done, it’s just a tissue and no doubt registers extremely low on the scale of offenses and grievances.  There are people in this world that are dealing with problems and issues that dramatically change the skyline view of their future.  The tissue issue may be small but the solution remains the same no matter the size of the offense.  A couple of verses later, in verse 19, the Bible says, “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

I’m not sure how that verse translates into my particular situation today.  Maybe the convicting power of the Holy Spirit will reveal to this individual how disrespectful it is to toss their trash into someone else’s vehicle.  Maybe the recompense will be that this person’s children will grow up realizing that their parent, their role model, their mentor is selfish and thinks only of themselves.  Maybe someone will toss their own brand of trash into their vehicle.  However it plays out, I know that, by choosing to say nothing, I will be able to sleep at night, knowing that I extended mercy to someone who really got my blood boiling.  I chose not to take the bait of offense and launch into the mud with someone whose standards are clearly low and probably would have loved the opportunity to tussle with someone.  After all, people who toss their trash into other people’s vehicles are real stand-up folks.

Stand up for right.  Stand up for what you believe in.  Confront wrongs where you think it’s right to do.  But don’t get sucked into the pit.  If it’s an issue the Lord is not releasing you to handle, let Him handle it.  There are pigs waiting for a good mud-wrestle.  It’s not worth what you’ll look like when it’s over.