You open the door and the smell reaches you first. The fridge has been left full and switched off. There are holes punched in two bedroom doors, the louvre blades are missing from the back window, and someone has painted over the damp in the bathroom with what looks like leftover gloss. Three months’ rent is owing. The tenant’s number goes straight to voicemail. On social media, he is posting photos from a party.
If you have ever been in that doorway, you know the feeling that rises up. It is not just disappointment. It is a hot, clear desire to make him pay. To post his name and photo in every community group. To turn up at his mother’s house. To keep his things and sell them. To make sure he never rents anywhere again.
The same feeling comes for a homeowner whose contractor disappeared with the deposit, a family cheated by a relative over land, or a tenant whose landlord kept the deposit for no reason and changed the locks. Real wrong has been done. The question is what we do next.
Paul’s line in the sand
Romans 12 closes with some of the most demanding words in the New Testament:
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath.” (Romans 12:17–19, NIV)
Notice what Paul does not say. He does not say that what happened was fine, or that wrongdoing doesn’t matter. He speaks of God’s wrath, which means God takes it seriously. He also does not say we must stay silent or do nothing. In the very next chapter, he describes governing authorities as God’s servants for justice (Romans 13:1–4). There is a proper place for courts, tribunals, police reports and legal claims.
What Paul forbids is taking vengeance into our own hands: repaying evil with evil. The line runs between seeking a fair remedy and seeking to hurt.
Justice or revenge? Some honest tests
- Is it proportionate? Claiming the cost of repairs through proper channels is justice. Trying to ruin someone’s life over it is revenge.
- Is it lawful? Changing locks without due process, seizing belongings or threatening someone may itself be unlawful where you live, and can turn you from the wronged party into the wrongdoer.
- Is it true? Warning others honestly, if appropriate, is different from spreading exaggerated stories. Ephesians tells us to expose the works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11), but exposure must be truthful and fair.
- Could I say it to their face? If what you are about to post or say would shame you if they read it, pause.
- What do I want? Repair, recovery and protection for the next person are good goals. Wanting them to suffer is a warning sign.
Doing right while hurt
“Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone” is practical advice. In the doorway of the wrecked flat, doing right might look like:
- Photographing and recording everything calmly, with dates.
- Checking the tenancy agreement and speaking to an attorney-at-law about your options.
- Following the proper process for any belongings left behind and for recovering money owed.
- Accounting honestly for the deposit, even though you are angry.
- Keeping your messages factual and free of threats.
None of this is weakness. It is the kind of strength that lets you sleep at night, and it often puts you in a better position if the matter does go further.
Overcome evil with good
Paul goes further still: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink” (Romans 12:20). And he finishes, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
That may seem impossible when the damage is fresh. It may never mean being friends with the person who wronged you. But it can mean small things. Refusing to curse him in front of your children. Praying for him, even through gritted teeth. Choosing not to let one bad tenancy turn you into a harsh landlord who treats every future tenant as a suspect. If you later hear he is in real need, choosing not to rejoice.
Being “overcome by evil” does not only mean being defeated by the other person. It can mean letting their wrong reshape your heart. The greatest damage a bad tenant or a dishonest builder can do is not to your doors and windows. It is to make you bitter. That is the loss Paul most wants you to avoid.
For reflection
- Has someone harmed your home, land or money in a way you are still angry about?
- What would a fair remedy look like, and what would revenge look like?
- How can you protect your heart from bitterness while still pursuing what is right?
A prayer: Lord, you see what was done and how much it cost. I leave the final judgement to you. Help me to seek what is fair without seeking to wound, to speak truthfully without slander, and to keep my heart soft. Do not let me be overcome by evil; teach me to overcome it with good. Amen.
This article is general information only and is not financial, legal, tax or other professional advice. Please speak to a qualified professional about your own circumstances.
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