Turn the Other Cheek

Luke 12:13-15 - And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Genesis 26:16-25 - And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we. And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there. And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him. And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah. And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land. And he went up from thence to Beersheba. And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake. And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well.
The truth in this message will help us to have peace with each other. If you were the brother in Luke 12:13-15, left out of a monetary inheritance, how would you feel? Mad, angry, like you deserved your part too? What type of person does it take to give in? or to step up and say, ok, it’s yours, no hard feelings? Someone who is humble, spiritual, strong, someone who sees the value in relationships.
In Genesis 26:16-25 Isaac had his servants dig a well; the first two wells the herdsmen of Gerar told him, hey – that’s our water! Instead of fighting with them, Isaac moved on to another place and dug a third well, and no one strove with him, so that is where he set up camp.
Two different stories, two different responses. The one feeling he was owed something and thought if he took his plight to Jesus, Jesus would step in and make his brother share with him; and the other, honoring God, moving away so not to stir up strife among the brethren. Isaac showed great strength in not fighting back with the herdsmen of Gerar. So, how would react in these two situations? How do you react when someone is disagreeable with you?
In talking about turning the other cheek, we are talking about not being stubborn or bullheaded, not about standing firm on your convictions.
To keep peace, to get along with each other, we really should be ‘digging another well’ or turning the other cheek as Jesus commanded in Matthew 5:39, But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. - Matthew 5:37-40. The stronger person always turns the other cheek, digs a new well, or walks away, giving in to the weaker. Giving in doesn’t make you weak.
As Christians, we should have the same attitude Isaac had, build another well, turn the other cheek; that doesn’t mean to let people walk all over you or to give up your convictions to make someone happy. If your convictions are God’s convictions there will be times you will end up standing alone, but Jesus told us about this in His Word, Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Matthew 5:10-11; Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. - John 15:20.
If God is being violated, what should you do? Stand up! Dig in! Stand firm on the only solid foundation, the Rock, the Word of God! When personal rights are being infringed upon, dig another well, to keep the peace. The mark of spiritual maturity is when you can give up your personal rights, to know you can give them up and do so to keep the peace.
I Corinthians 9:15 - But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. Standing up for Godly rights is Biblical and giving up our personal rights, to keep peace with someone, is a sign of spiritual maturity and spiritual growth; it is best to always give in when it’s personal. Jesus gave in during His ministry; it wasn’t about Him, but about His Father’s work. So, it’s not about me or you, it’s about Christ living through us and putting others before ourselves {J.O.Y. – Jesus first, others second and yourself last}.
Philippians 2:5-6 - Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Jesus was God in the flesh, He emptied Himself of His majesty.
Philippians 2:14-15 - Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; {Do you know why we’re able to be forgiven, or even saved? Because Jesus left His heavenly home and demonstrated ‘digging another well’, ‘turning the other cheek’ – He could have stopped the crucifixion, but He didn’t; He was humble and He turned the other cheek to everyone laughing at Him, mocking Him, scorning Him. He freely gave up His life for you.} So, the stronger person is the one who humbles himself, that is what Jesus did, and taught; if you want peace, turn the other cheek.
Jenn