To be miserly, to be stingy, to scheme and cut thinking with angles that confuse others when verbalized; to consider slighting or short-changing another for personal gain, is to be miserable and malignant as a being. The miserable display disgust and exude bitterness when they do not get their own way; witness contempt pouring from their pores, when they froth at the mouth with foul suggestions, and verbalized insults, directed at anyone and everyone, that refuses to do their bidding.
Contempt is contagious, and this is a dangerous two-way street for anyone that has to consistently suffer the presence of a miserable person. How, the question goes, does one remain kind, and never weary of well doing, when challenged frequently, by someone that is a constant irritant and annoyance?
We are in the world and not of it, so The Bible says, and it behooves us to see our Lord in our minds eye, and emulate him, when feeling frustrated by those that refuse to behave in a becoming fashion.
Those who are not really saints on earth will never be saints in heaven, Matthew Henry, Acts to Revelation, Volume 6, page 582.
I struggle to be kind when the urge to retaliate bubbles up in me. My methodology is to counter strange arguments with truthful statements, then to stand firm, and leave the unmistakable impression that I am not moved, no matter the adult temper tantrum the other engages in, during my departure. The trouble with the petulant, is that they are persistent. Petulant is defined as: childishly sulky or bad tempered ~ do you deal regularly with a grown-up that acts like an entitled bratty and embarrassingly self-indulgent two year old, dear one? Do their temper tantrums move you to make them happy by complying with the demands that in their mind, are commands that must be obeyed?
There isn't a soul that has escaped suffering in relationship with the type of person I describe. We have all come in contact with the miserable that act like their daddy the Devil, the progenitor of all things vile and evil. For those that are baffled and dumbfounded, thrown off balance and temporarily confused by what the wicked ones say and do, please do know this, these are normal reactions and responses to oddities. If you simply cannot figure out why some people say and do what they say and do, then allow me to congratulate you, for not being able to comprehend their twisted thinking, and resultant bizarre behaviours. You are healthy in your mind, if you cannot explain insanity and reprobation.
You and I are in a world where saints and the sin soaked, live side by side. We must do our very best with the strength God bestows, to resist, when tempted to allow the breeding of contempt in our minds and our souls. The root of hatred cannot grow, if we confess to God that we are inclined to reciprocate what we have endured, as meted out by the miserable: we must ask for his assistance to be more like his Son, when we feel the urge to get ugly like they do. God's mercy is unmatchable, and yet, we are called to emulate our Saviour, and pray for our enemies too:
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you (Matthew 5:44).
While it seems counterintuitive to love, bless, do good, and pray, for the enemies that despitefully use and persecute us, this is God's command to the faithful. Compare this command, to what the miserable ones demand, and you can clearly see, why God is God, and the Devil is just a damned and dastardly wannabe that will never dethrone, The King.
Who, pray tell, is the King/king of your mind, heart, and soul; and how will we know this about you?
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