Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
Psalm 41:9 (KJV)
There is no relationship problem that you or I could encounter that is not dealt with somewhere in the Bible. For example,
- Cain and Abel – brother against brother
- Moses and Miriam – sister against brother
- Joseph – whole family against son and brother
- Jacob and Laban – employer against employee
- David and Saul – leader against his subject
- David and Absalom – son against his father
- Jesus and Judas – disciple against his Lord
- Paul and Barnabas – two preachers
So, what is the best thing to do when people turn against you?
Rest in the faithfulness of God.
Getting bitter at God and accusing God will only compound the problem. God is not against you. God is a:
- God of Deliverance (verse 1) – the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.
- God of Preservation (verse 2) – the Lord will preserve him and keep him alive.
- God of Blessing (verse 2) – and he shall be blessed upon the earth.
- God of Strength (verse 3) – the Lord will strengthen him upon the bed.
- God of Restoration (verse 3) – thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.
Repent your faults and failures.
Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Job 42:6 (KJV)
So, I am ashamed of all I have said and repent in dust and ashes. When you are hurting, that is a good time to re-examine your own heart and motives. Was your spirit, tone, and motives, right? Were you honorable, ethical, biblical and kind?
Realize you will have foes.
Not everybody is going to love you.
David
David was an amazing man. He was a man after God’s own heart. He was a man of war, fearless in battle, brave and not intimidated by opposition. He was also a poet, a singer, a cunning musician, a writer of songs. David was forgiving (1 Samuel 24), patient (2 Samuel 16), and honorable (2 Samuel 1). He was anointed by God not once, but twice! (1 Samuel 16:13, 2 Samuel 5:3)
Paul the Apostle (Acts 22:22)
Some people are going to want to see you fail, lie to your face (Psalm 41:6a), look for something to use against you (Psalm 41:6b), and tell everybody they come in contact with (Psalm 41:6c). They love to hate you; they have no life without you to hate. (Psalm 41:7a) Your bad news is their good news.
They will use weapons that you are not allowed to use such as lies, deceit, fabrications, etc. If you choose to maintain your integrity, you will immediately be put at a disadvantage If you fight back. But if you don’t fight back, it means they are right.
Recognize that friends and family may forsake you.
David was hurting. Why? He has experienced the pain of a ruined relationship. A friend he was familiar with, someone he had faith in and fellowshipped.
Refrain from fleshly retribution.
10 But thou, O Lord, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.
11 By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.
12 And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.
Psalm 41:10-12 (KJV)
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Romans 12:20 (KJV)
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 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;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 5:43-48 (KJV)
No matter who turns against you, or what they do, God will never turn His back on you.
…I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Hebrews 13:5 (KJV)