Mercy Gone Bad

4.2 Let Not Mercy Forsake You Prov. 3: 3 – 4 (AMP) says, “Let not mercy and kindness (shutting out all hatred and selfishness) and truth (shutting out all deliberate hypocrisy or falsehood) forsake you: bind them about your neck, write them upon the tablet of your heart.” (See also Col. 3:9 – 12). The word translated “forsake” came from the Hebrew word “azab” meaning to loosen, i.e. relinquish, permit, commit self, fail, fortify, help, leave (destitute, off ), refuse. Mercy can leave or forsake someone. It is as if it is personified. The scripture did not say “do not leave or forsake mercy,” but that we should not allow it to leave. First, we notice that if one has been practicing acts of mercy, it is possible for one to reduce the intensity and coverage of one’s merciful acts. This could happen if one allows hatred or selfishness to dry up his bowel of compassion. God is telling us that we shouldn’t allow this to happen. The person you showed some mercy or kindness in the past might have hurt or slandered or made besmirching remark about you. Because of that you might have concluded that you’ll never assist him again. I want to encourage you to remove all hatred, malice and selfishness and put on kindness and bowel of mercy. Continue to do good. Be not weary in doing good, for you will reap if you do not faint. Perhaps, you used to enjoy doing acts of mercy, but now you have become lukewarm because of past hurts. Take up the virtue once more. It is highly needed in this dispensation when many are languishing in hunger, suffering from diseases, and have no hope. Do not rationalize. Confess your failure to God and ask for the grace to continue from where you stopped. The word “forsake,” as explained before, means to loosen i.e., relinquish, permit, to commit self, fail, forsake, fortify, help, leave, refuse. Considering the context, the negative words fit in immediately. That is, we can say, “let not mercy fail us or forsake us or leave us or refuse us.” Clearly, we should hold tenaciously to our acts of mercy or practice of mercy so that it will not slip through our hands. There are many obstacles that could throw themselves on the way of our exhibiting this wonderful Godlike quality. We should not allow ourselves to be discouraged and stop the act of showing mercy to others. By substituting any of those words we obtain a direct relevant meaning of what the scripture is saying. We are not to give it up or relinquish the practice rather we should allow or permit it and commit ourselves to the practice. It should be our life’s commitment. The word “let” should attract our attention. It implies we should make efforts not to allow it leave us. In order words, we should endeavor not to allow certain things prevent us from showing mercy. Obstacles that could hinder us include: i. Rationalization ii. Negative attitudes of people who we tried to show mercy in the past e.g., ingratitude iii. Our selfish nature iv. Rumors about what other mercy shower have suffered in the past v. Others talking us out of it vi. Not making out time to think of the needy. The negative meaning of the word ‘forsake’ can also be matched with the negative words in the definition of mercy. For instance, fortify going with reproach, wicked thing or help going with reproach or wicked thing. 4.2.1 Wicked Thing Act of mercy can be a ‘wicked thing.’ It can be turned into something nasty, something that is not beneficial to either the mercy giver or the receiver. It may dishonor God depending on the motives of the receiver and giver, the way it is given, and other factors. Our act of mercy should be done prayerfully and carefully with the right motives so that we edify the receivers and glorify God in heaven. As mentioned before, some people perpetrate atrocities in the name of showing or receiving mercy. They set out to cause havoc, defraud, deceive and destroy other people under the cloak of mercy. Others can inadvertently turn mercy to something sinister through the way they practice acts of mercy. Still others use the act of mercy subversively and insidiously to cheat others. The scripture enjoins us to glorify God in all that we do. If our intention is to gain popularity or seduce or to defraud others, then we are not practicing it in the right way. If we don’t let “our light so shine before men so that they will glorify our God in heaven,” then we are not practicing it right. A lady, Ifeoma Obalum, whose life is a challenge to others as a mercy-shower recounted this nasty experience she had about her friend. “On the 2nd of January 2019, I got a call from a friend of mine, her name is Vivian. She said that I should help her with any little money I have that they are starving. I felt so bad that she and her kids are starving even though she is married. I didn’t have much on me so I sent her the last ten thousand Naira in my account. She called me after 20 minutes to thank me for my kindness. I was happy that I was able to solve the problem. Later that week, she called me to lend her a gown someone gave me as a gift. She wanted to attend a wedding. Happily, I gave out the gown to her. After two days, I called her to request for my gown. She broke into tears as she explained how her husband seized the gown and burnt it. This was a beautiful clothe I had not worn even once. So, when I dropped the call, I cried bitterly for the gown because I spent so much money to purchase it. I was caring for this lady because I felt that I was better than her but little did I know that her husband is a Bank manager and her mum stays in America. Her mum pays her salary every month. She was spending the money on her boyfriend that stays in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I felt sad and cheated when I found out about that and I had to cut that friendship.”