Stop The Vicious Cycle

1 Thessalonians 5:15
Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

A vicious cycle is also known as the vicious circle. It refers to a chain of events that leads to something worse as it goes around to the original problem. You find yourself in a cycle of problems that keep taking you back to the original problem that you were seeking to solve.

If your problem is that you don’t have enough money, it will lead to another problem of being unable to go to school. If you don’t go to school, which is your second problem, it will lead to a third problem of not getting jobs that pay well. Your third problem of not getting well-paid jobs will lead you to your first problem of not having enough money. You have gone around a circle back to your original problem. That is what we call a vicious cycle!

Those in a vicious cycle are stuck in it unless they break out of that cycle. The lack of money can be broken by getting a scholarship that will change the cycle. Stop the vicious cycle.

Apostle Paul tells the church of the Thessalonians that they need to ensure that no one pays evil for evil. The entire church must come together to ensure no one pays wrong for wrong. Stop the vicious cycle!

The Apostle is asking the church to proactively intervene when someone is offended. The church intervenes not only to grant justice to the offended but also to ensure the offended don’t revenge. “Make sure nobody pays wrong for wrong.” Stop the vicious cycle!

People living together will most likely wrong each other. If the offended take revenge the offender will counter revenge at a later date. The vicious cycle will have started. The only way to stop the vicious cycle is to ensure the offended don’t get revenge. “Make sure nobody pays wrong for wrong.” Stop the vicious cycle!

Is there a disagreement among leaders? Is there a disagreement between a leader and some members? Is there disagreement between members? Whoever and whatever the disagreement, the message is the same. “Make sure nobody pays wrong for wrong.” Stop the vicious cycle!

Were the new leaders wronged by the previous leaders? Are the new leaders in a position to avenge the evils meted on them by the immediate former leaders? “Make sure nobody pays wrong for wrong.” Stop the vicious cycle!

Were you mistreated by your guardians when you were young? Did they frustrate your growth? Did they do everything possible to make sure you don’t make it in life? You have now made it and they are helplessly depending on you? This is a message for you. “Make sure nobody pays wrong for wrong.” Stop the vicious cycle!

We stop the vicious cycle by refusing to revenge. We stop the vicious cycle by doing good to each other and everyone else. May we be counted among those who stopped the vicious cycles in our church, workplace, and community, in Jesus’s name, Amen!

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