I feel like the idea of karma just enables bitterness in peoples' lives. I'm talking specifically about the negative kind (karma: action, seen as bringing upon oneself inevitable results, good or bad). The ATTITUDE of karma. Regardless of what you believe about the existence of karma, I see via social media how people think it should serve them: revenge.
The tone taken when writing about it is like acid just jumping off of the page. And you hear it a lot, right? How karma will get 'em because of how bad they are. Then does that mean if you're a good person you'll get good things, because that doesn't seem to be the case.
I think your karma is broken.
It's normal to experience hurt and then have the thought "I wish that person would get something horrible in return," but you need to immediately decide what to do with that thought. Who is that hurting anyway? Who does that affect? You. You!!
Some really good advice is found in 2 Cor 10:5 where it says "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." And what should we do with our words?
The apostle Paul wrote: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29).
“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:6).
And our thought life?
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
(Philippians 4:8)
Do you understand the amazing power of forgiveness?
I'm not talking about letting someone continue to hurt you I'm talking about letting go of the bitterness that is killing your own spirit. Stop holding onto it by wishing bad things for people who have hurt you. You're running in circles and wearing yourself out while nothing gets accomplished.
That smirk on your face - as you spit the word KARMA out - that is supposed to show the world how much you don't care is a thin veil that only accentuates your pain to the world. And I'm sad for you. I just want to hug you and explain that you aren't responsible for vengeance. It's too heavy for you to carry. Way too heavy. So heavy that before you realize it, it has descended upon you so slowly that you're too far gone to crawl out from beneath it. You have to let it go. All or nothing.
Wanting bad karma for others and extending forgiveness cannot co-exist.
*Karma is a cover for lusting after revenge.
*Forgiveness covers the need for revenge.
Stop wishing karma upon people. God takes care of that. He has declared that we shall reap what we sow. Look...it's right there in His Word:
Galatians 6:7
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
Job 4:8
As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.
2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
Proverbs 26:27
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.
So you can let go of it. You, who were in a bad situation due to another person's actions. That situation, that pain, is not worthless. When you forgive in the face of it, that's when you know you're above their mess! Outside of it! Growth! Maturity! You're doing it, keep going!! Lots of exclamation points!!!!
When you wish the best for people, you wish the best for our world. You wish the best for the world of our children. YOU become a better person. And if you can't wish the best for them at least pray for their hearts to be softened, then turn around and walk away. Which will benefit all of us! Baby steps.
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A final thought. Don't pray the above scriptures over someone else. That they'll reap what they sow. God is dealing with that person. Don't hope for it. Those words are YOUR lesson. Pray it's not your future to reap a bitter, angry, vengeful, hateful life. Those scriptures aren't about the other person, they're always about you. About me. About the person reading them. They're personal.
Karma, the way we use it on Facebook and in funny memes on Pinterest, is a lie. Move past it, it's only hurting you.
