I use to believe God does not punish on earth, as I sit back and watch the vengeful get punished I realize that most never grow up and never actually earn the label of men and women just little boys and girls
@Pokingthenear1960, I’ve wondered about God’s punishment and if we are punished on earth for our sins, I’m not sure what I’ve been gone through in my life would cover the punishment due. I’ve changed those thoughts a little and now I wonder whether my troubles here will count against what I need to pay. I guess I’ll find out, at my age, sooner rather than later. Lol Have a good one and God Bless.
@@Hoaxer51 The Word tells us we can never repay what we owe, only He who was sent can, in our place. It is a free gift, so that man may not boast in himself, but rely solely on The Righteous Creator. There is only one way to the Father.
@@Pokingthebear1960There’s no doubt in my mind that I bring difficulty on myself by my sins, but the most amazing thing is, that when I give up my rebellion then such sweet Grace comes in to fill the void. I wonder why I ever would harbor sin ever again, but yet, I do
I love how self aware & humble you were when you delivered this message. I don’t like when people get ‘preachy’ but you have such an elegant way of laying things out in a manner that people can relate to without feeling like they’re being talked down to. Great job Scott.
I have to admit that this is the FIRST time that I have listened to your words regarding scripture, and our purpose on this earth. Your words were profound, and easy to understand. I am a person that is guilty of holding grudges. I have tried to forgive, but I do NOT FORGET! But your words have started me thinking. Thank you.
Not even 10 seconds in and i know it's going to be shared with everyone i know that needs to see it. Thank you and God bless you Scott for the invaluable lessons you teach
"Blessed are the peacemakers..."You've touched on a topic I've wrestled with most of my 77 years. My conclusion at this time is that a distinction must be made between personal injury, and injustices done by others to others. Hopefully we all grow as we age to suffer offenses with grace and mercy (knowing that we have offended others and desire the same). At the same time, we are not to turn a blind eye to the injustices in the world around us. Those who know the Prince of Peace are best equipped to weigh situations and respond appropriately. God grant us the faith, wisdom, and courage to do so.
"Give up the idea that exacting revenge will ever bring peace,because it won't".I love this guy,thinking and believing the things that he does,and not afraid to make a public video expressing it.A fellow tradesman,too.
This man is a father I’ve never had. Thank you for the healing I deeply needed this day. I hope you have a wonderful and long beautiful life. Take care
I'm not an atheist, I'm an antitheist but I hear you and I respect you. Wise words come from all sides of any debate. We just have to allow ourselves the opportunity to hear the speaker.
I really love that you recognize the best tool in the toolbox for a tradesman is his character ,and the quality that comes out of being free from offense. Thank you sir.
Good one man. "I was wrong, please forgive me" is such a SELF HEALING thing to say, ever mind the release it gives to the other person. A very good and wise word!
BRILLIANCE. Too many of us love a soapbox, myself included). You have managed to discuss this topic while avoiding a pushy dialog. Just what I needed right now. Thank you.
There is joy in helping others, it's called altruism. It helps to volunteer, to do some community service without getting anything back for your time or money beside the joy of helping someone else. I learned this by having kids, and making that sacrifice so they can have a better life. For me, a bit of exercise each day helps alot. Spend some time working on your breathing and living in the moment. I learned that breathing helps, from marksmanship and having to control my body to maintain a consistent sight picture on the target while holding up the rifle. Pulling the trigger is a choice. Welding is very similar. Nobody is perfect, but peace in the moment helps over the long run. Eating an elephant, can be accomplished, one bite at a time. You just have to set aside some time for yourself, to take that time to live in the moment and not live for the past or the future. The hardest part is letting yourself make mistakes, letting yourself be human. Happy Wednesday! ~Mike
How apropole. I'm going for a job interview and the guy that had the most experience, but didn't make it through the first round is already on his revenge circle. I'm bringing this energy into the meeting. Thank You.
And yet some people are going backwards... degenerating... to the law of the desert and below. Others are funding them and are on the same degenerate journey. Yes, I'm talking about Zios and their corrupted Western backers. Two deep, wide graves indeed.
Well said! Revenge poisons the soul. You end up hurting those you do love and those that need you, simply because you are focused on revenge. I now find myself praying that I may not mimic the actions that have hurt me, and I offer my hurt as a means to heal those who have hurt others. This is the good work indeed.
Great video. I recently went through a nasty work situation with a coworker who's fallen off his rocker for one reason or another and has become extremely paranoid and borderline malevolent. After turning my cheek a couple times, I decided it was better to take a transfer than to start down the path of revenge. I remember my younger days in the yard when I'd knuckle up with someone to sort out a problem but I'm much more at peace moving on. You're a great teacher.
Thank you Scott for a wonderful message. I have heard a similar saying about poison and not forgiving. "Its like me drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die". Keep up the good work.
Your words, coming from a craftsman and businessman, landed more powerfully on me than if they had come from a preacher. (No disrespect at all to preachers, but they're EXPECTED to say things like that.) Thanks for having the courage and humility to say something important in a forceful way that doesn't sound judgey.
A preacher that leaves home at 18 to go to seminary, and enters the ministry at 22 knows nearly nothing about the world. They know little of the actual struggles real people deal with every day. I will put 100X more stock in a sermon from a craftsman, than I will from a modern day pharisee.
In a sense, Scott is a preacher. He is, or was in the Stake Presidency for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I could listen to him ALL day!!!!
Thank you , for addressing this , I grew up with this mentality , but when it really comes down to reality it is so hard to follow through with. My mother's passed away in September as did my relationship with my brother . For some reason he decided to go behind everyone s back and for the lack of vocabulary be greedy towards his siblings . I am struggling daily with at a minimum not trying to think about it or him. This word helps me to refocus on trying to move past the issue and just live life and focus on my immediate family wife and kids .
Brother. I was there. My Mom and Dad died recently, three months apart. My Sister turned out to be a narcissist, which I didn’t even know what that was, but boy did I find out. The sleepless nights. Suddenly waking up at 4 a.m. (on the nights that I did sleep) thinking about all the words she said,the manipulation, and I remember gritting my teeth. I woke up thinking about it. I talked to God about wanting to get over it. To not seek revenge or to be like her. I knew I shouldn’t pray for her demise or to be satisfied when bad things happened to her. It affected me, my family, and my work and I wanted out of it, to heck with the money, it was being taken advantage of by my own flesh and blood, the one that I should trust above all others, that hurt the most. I hope you find peace, I did, finally. In my anguish I wound up gritting my teeth so hard during my sleep, that I wound up breaking a tooth. The root canal and the cap and my bills for it all gave me something else to think about for a while 😅. Don’t be like me. God is watching us, and vengeance is His. Not yours. His vengeance will be just and it will be severe and when you think about that, you actually start to feel pity for them. Your loss will be restored in other ways.
@@sport07-o2lI had a very similar experience with my sister when my parents died. I finally got to the point that I just prayed for peace for her, in hopes that it would spread to the people that she affected. The things that I worried about then are no longer issues. Good will come to those who do right, just be patient. My wife said " death and money do strange things to people".
I’m basically an agnostic who still believes in the teachings of Jesus, but you just took me to church, EC. I love it when you post videos like this. You reached me. Thank you.
God will always provide you with what you need, when you need it most. Thank you EC for being the reminder and deliverer of the message I needed in this season.
Ive had the book "Aphorisms of Confucius" for years that my mom gifted me, i read it every once in a while and its a great one. Didnt realize this would be a philosophy channel but here we are! Thank you for all your thoughts and lessons that you share with us. I enjoy the videos and it genuinely makes my day better when i watch them. Hope you have a good day and a good year ahead.
Coming into my 50’s I can appreciate The Book as the key to life, but I’m glad to experience eternal insight in secular wisdom. This summer, I read Marcus Aurelius… and the note on my journal reads … the best revenge, is not to be like your enemy. Fascinating that a stoic would take that to heart.
"We forgive others not because they deserve it, but because we deserve peace" I would agree sometimes, especially in the moment, it's easy to feel as you've been wronged and it's okay to allow yourself to feel that but overtime, hanging on to those feelings, plotting or waiting for your time to 'get even' is a road to a diminished life. Revenge never feels as sweat as you imagine it to be because deep in your heart, you realize you've hurt another human being.
Also, I try to keep in mind that I can't not think about the pink elephant, once I've thought of it. I have to focus on something else to clear my mind. For me, that is sometimes making a list of things I'm grateful for. Resentment and gratitude don't co-exist well in my mind, so filling up on gratitude will diminish resentment. And, like everything else, it didn't work the first time I tried to focus on gratitude. It turns out that feeling gratitude is a SKILL. It has to be learned and practiced if I want to be good at it, like every other skill. This is one that I really like, it's amazing how it's helped me go from being a glass-half-empty to glass-half-full person.
Excellent points, certainly true in my personal experience. Someone said, "You can't push darkness from a room, but you can turn on the light!" You can't expect dark thoughts to begone unless you replace them with with something better. Nature abhors a vacuum; so does the mind. I also know someone who was hated by her unbalanced mother-- chased with a knife and screamed at etc.-- and that situation led to a life of mental illness and receiving further abuse. She took a counselor's advice and started each morning writing down things she could be grateful for. She said after about two years of doing that-- and some days it was WORK-- her mind was rewired and she was free! She still makes sure to practice thankfulness.
The timing of this video could not be more perfectly placed, and your wisdom continues to inspire me to work forward. Thank you for the work that you do.
Once in a while those of us in the trades have something to contribute to the spirituality of the world. You run into these people on the job sometimes. Thanks for this excellent sermon. You are one I would listen to intently during a break. I would certianly watch carefully to see your building methods.
This was a timely topic for me...I'm just about at my 67th time around the sun and have struggled with this conundrum most of my life. For the most part the good side of me has won the battle. I'm over five years into a bitter divorce and have had more than half of my pension and assets taken away ....this is the toughest test yet of my righteousness. Thanks again for the well timed post.
Striding confidently through your elderhood. Well done for doing your bit, man. I don't share your religious beliefs, but that's no matter. This world needs mature and loving leadership, and it's unlikely to come from the tops of the hierarchies we have allowed to arise. Words from a Carpenter; they often do the trick, eh? - one of the reasons that this trade drew me in. With admiration and brotherly love.
That's a mistranslation, "first dig two graves" means, make sure you have an extra hole incase someone sees you taking out the first guy so you don't spend all night digging holes.
I went through a series of toxic relationships that i ended and boy did the other individuals come at me for revenge. The first of those angered my friends and family, but while I sat in a cell waiting to see if charges would be pressed (thankfully the accusations were recognised as the vengeful fantasies they were), I didn't feel anger or resentment. Never have. My overriding emotion was pity, at least initially, and then from that forgiveness. That this other person who I had tried my hardest to grt along with, could be driven to such an act of revenge, meant there was a darkness playing out in their personal psychology, childhood trauma in this case. And so how can one be angry with a wounded child? I was blessed with a stable and loving childhood. And so I pushed past pity to forgiveness. They could be anyone other than who they are. None of us can. And so we need to forgive ourselves and others when things go south. A later relationship ended with a social media smear campaign against me. This angered me more because I'd put 5 years into the relationship, compromising and deviating from my true path in life. On reflection I think I was manipulated by a narcissist (pun intended). But a little more time went by and I realised that it was the same story. An unstable childhood, an unloving parent... and so I forgive them. Don't grt me wrong, I didnt keep them in my life, but forgiveness is about you not them. It was my seeming waste of effort for 5 years I was sore about. But then I met my wife and we have 2 beautiful children together. Every moment of my past had lead me to the point in time and space where I met my wife, therefore she justifies my very existence. And my path intersected with hers when I learnt to forgive. When I learned to respect myself. And when I learned to let go. And now we take that forward as we raise our kids. Great video, keep up the good work!
Still some of the best information, education, and production. The item looks and sounds great as well as is presented by someone who understands 'presenting'. Thank you for not using a ridiculous 'podcast' mic and being subtle with the clip on. Still would like to hide that as well or use a boom....but enough about me. Thanks for the valuable and wise words. Always a treat to watch!
Excellent sermon. It has taken me my lifetime to slowly evolve into the mindset that the best revenge is no revenge. We are all better when we reach that point. Thanks.
My dad was taken from us when I was 10 yrs old. Im now 50. My mom never remarried, she focused her time and all her love on raising 5 kids. I missed having a good earthly father figure. I have 3 kids that I've been blessed to raise, Being a good father is a hard job, and very necessary in our culture. Thank you for taking part in that role even for myself.
I am also a lifelong grudge holder, but the way I have dealt with it, if I have at all, is to understand that I am only responsible for the actions of the person that looks back at me in the mirror. What I choose to do, how I choose to respond is the only thing in my control. My granddaddy told me long, long ago "if you ain't gonna help, then don't hinder".
I was not expecting that, but I really appreciate it... Hope that whatever may have inspired it is resolved amicably, but always nice to hold that positive resolution in one's self regardless... cheers.
Thank you for the video; it was much appreciated. I was a bit grumpy with a few contractors today. Listening to your advice has inspired me to be more empathetic tomorrow.
So many great lessons across many subject matter areas. Thank you,always, Scott. Forgiving is healing. The story of Louis Zamperini in “Unbroken” really helped me come to terms with this principle. Louis didn’t start healing and living his best life until he forgave “The Bird” Watanabe (and accepted Christ as his Savior).
Thank you for posting this. God brought it to my attention just when it was needed. I see, too, that the great Craftsman is keeping up the good work in your life! Peace to you.
In many cases, I see that the person who harmed me is already suffering so much by being who they are, that I don’t need to do anything to make their life worse. It’s not always the case, but often.
Amen, The Bible teaches us "revenge is The Lord's to decide to do and to do". Now as you said I am a hypocrite at times. For it is easy to let "the old man" have his way instead of the new man Christ makes out of us.(2 Cor 5:17). Thank you for having a Good conversation about the difficulties of life and how to overcome them....
Great perspective. Jesus amplified, making sure there was no question as to "...what manner of man/woman we ought (need to be)...even as He is...when He said we are to forgive 7 x 70...and that we are to forgive ALL....and further, that only HE is the judge, not us. Noting that we are to judge not, lest we be judged. I agree with you, in my 79 yrs....it is much easier to read/say than to do, but that's the purpose of life on earth = to learn and practice how "To keep up the good work" so we can be like Him. Thanks for all your efforts in sharing your wise counsel...kinda like a Carpenter I've read about who practiced and showed the way,, about 2,000 yrs ago. :)
Wise people are wise, regardless of whether you happen to believe they are more or less divine, perfect or imperfect, than any other person. These words right here are delivered by a very wise person indeed, expressing wisdom hard-earned day after day, hour after hour, and moment after moment, over a life and career of integrity. Thank you, Scott.
I have to continually remind myself of these VERY wise and sage yet many times difficult to observe words from Apostle Paul. "Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:17-21 New American Standard Bible 1995 A very timely and excellent video post Scott! 👍👍
I think you and I have the same Great Teacher. Revenge is unnecessary thought and action. Justice has many forms. Leave the outcome to God. When we refuse vengeance, it is astonishing to others, because they predict outcomes based on their own barbaric mindset... To not retaliate or take revenge... This is how we do our part to save the world... And lives... Instead of digging any graves. Good message.
I don't think "turn the other cheek" is unpopular...just misconstrued. It doesn't mean to leave threats to you and yours unchecked. That's what it gets confused with, and why it's mostly rejected and unpopular. It means simply don't punish yourself spending time trying to punish your enemies. But I don't think any of these aforementioned wise men meant for us to ignore things that harm us and our loved ones, without confronting and contending with those threats. I think that distinction has to be made to get to the heart of why these words of wisdom are often rejected in the west.
In Middle Eastern culture, in relation to this, one cleans his backside with his left hand. Everything unclean, they do with their left hand. So when an Arab strikes you, they do so with their left hand as to defile you, make you unclean. So by turning the other cheek, they have to strike you with their right hand, thus making the one doing the striking, unclean, defiled, for their right hand has touched the body they just defiled with their left. In their own culture, they defiled themselves.
My grandma took great care, when talking with me and teaching me about various beliefs (including her own), to say "some people believe X" or "I believe X". That respect for the concept that I may not agree (even as a kid) and that even in certainty and as my elder she could not dictate what Is and Isn't, spiritually speaking, is something precious that allowed me to hear her in ways I might not have. Grandma taught me about the golden rule long before she told me where it was from. If someone is using a christian parable to talk with me about a greater moral question and they interrupt it with a declaration on, say, the bible being a Real Story That Happened, I feel compelled to stop thinking about the moral question we were engaging and mentally address, let's say, religion as a whole, and that is an unnecessary divide and perhaps prevents me from connecting with the intended topic, and thus growing. Because ultimately, I think it is not necessary to agree on the reality of the bible in order to connect on some of the wisdom and perspective provided. Anyway, I'm just sharing my point of view so that you have the tools to connect with me and folks like me (for whatever that's worth!) who try hard to be ethical without being religious, on topics like this. Cheers and thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Very well said, and kudos to your Grandma. If there was one jarring point in this video for me, it's where Scott (gently) interpreted himself to say "and if you accept that Jesus is divine - _and_he_is_ - ..." It felt like the thing your wise Grandma would have couched in terms of her own belief. Still, I don't resent anyone their beliefs; I just prefer not to be told what is and isn't true, it lacks humility, that otherwise Scott displays in spades. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.
That why I’ve never had an issue with the concept of revenge: someone wronged you, they sowed the seeds, so they get to reap the rewards of their actions. It’s a blade that MUST cut both ways. If a saying is true, the inverse must also be. Other people wrong us; it’s okay to wrong others too - just tell them to ‘turn the other cheek!’ right? Tell them ‘don’t seek revenge - it’s unhealthy!’ right? If no one else ever wronged us, then maybe I wouldn’t believe it’s okay to also be the bad guy from time to time, but we don’t live in a perfect world.
An eye for an eye, and the whole world ends up blind. Revenge of the type you describe doesn't ever deescalate, so mistakes, fuck ups, errors and the like all end up adding to the harm around us, to us and by us. Until, that is, wisdom allows us a path upwards, like Scott describes from 'the law of the desert' to 'an eye for an eye' to 'before revenging, dig two graves'. I've got my eye and ear open to wisdom because I want to live in a better world that doesn't have so much unnecessary hurt.
That is so true, revenge is a poison that slowly eats away at you, the object or your revenge has no idea how you feel, ultimately the only person you hurt, is you........many thanks for taking the time to mkke this, kind regards from cold, damp great britain
Love hearing Jesus and Marcus Aurelius quoted together. It's great hearing a Christian point of view combined with a philosophical point of view. Watched a few of your videos and liked what i seen. This is the video that made me a subscriber. Thanks for sharing these words of wisdom.
@sblowes Example of forgiving but NOT forgetting: you can forgive a person (say for example an abusive parent when you were a child) but set a boundary (not forgetting the abuse, forgiving but NOT forgetting) to keep yourself safe from more abusive behavior.
You can forgive a knave. But you should not ever forget he is a knave and act with prudence after. If someone steals from you, you can forgive them and deny them the ability to steal from you again. Forgiving is about withholding punishment. It doesn’t mean you have to trust them anymore.
Good lesson!. There are and were many wise humans, labelling the as divine undercuts the potential the human animal has. I feel the refusal of many to get real and avoid mythology prolongs our lack of ethical progress. It also then leads to accepting far too many other lies/fables from other not so wise or well meaning humans. It's better overall to go ahead and use fables/allegory, but state the lessons as such. We have to move on and stop doing more damage with the lessons (long term) than the improvement we are trying to make short term. It's not easy because of traditions. Anyway the message was good!
Excellent advice. I've learned the hard way that getting even doesn't make you feel better, it just makes you feel as dirty as the person who harmed you.
Revenge can go along with other emotions/desires. It depends on the situation. I've gotten "revenge" in the past against people and helped put them in jail. I have no doubt if those people were left to go free, they would have harmed others as bad or worse than what they did to me. I've also tried to get revenge in the workplace and it did more harm to me than good. It really depends on the situation and requires careful thought about what you do and why.
In the wise words of God, through Paul. "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:". Ephesians 4:26. This is one of my favorite verses in all the Bible, because it is one that I personally need to keep me in check. I once asked my Grandma, "How have you and Grandpa managed to stay married for over 60 years?". She told me that if they had a fight, they would always solve the issue before they went to sleep that night. This is literally putting those living words of scripture, into practice. Thanks EC for sharing this today!
Your explanation of the Mosaic law replacing the 'Old World' system of revenge is fascinating and is not something I have ever heard from a biblical teacher. I've never even heard that perspective. You might add to that, this: while an eye for an eye was codified, that exactitude was rarely, if ever actually followed. Usually there was compensation made to the offended party first because the people knew how detrimental that exactitude was if followed. It would mean the loss of the ability of one to feed himself or his kin or the loss of one's life even.
Many poeple think "Turn the other cheek" is about being a pushover. It's not. It is meant to make the other side to think about what they are doing. But will it work in the real world? Maybe it's just a thought experiment to help you look at things differently.
This man is a fine example of how it is possible to live in and participate in the modern world and yet not be consumed, chewed up, and spit out by it. He has the advantage of living most of his life before iPhones were a thing, but I think he realizes that from here on out the rest of us are going to need some guidance that only a perspective from previous generations can offer. If you haven’t yet picked up on the double meaning of “keep up the good work”, the other “good work” is the good work of helping your fellow man, working to be a good member of your family, community, and the world. Working to be a good example and lead those who come after us down a good path in life. This is his work now. It is the good work. Thank you sir. Keep up the good work.
You are so chill, and so supportive, and so cooperative, and so well-wishing, it's hard to imagine you holding a grudge, let alone feeling the need to explore the pros and cons of revenge. I hope (and trust) that whatever prompted this will have a positive outcome. edited to add Not a Christian. Love the teachings of Jesus.
There is a saying, "The first time is shame on you, the second time is shame on me." I keep forgiveness for those that truly have experienced remorse for their actions, though it is not for me to force remorse onto them. Life is too short for revenge or grudges, there are better things to spend our energies on. But I don't have to forget a wrong and allow it to happen a second time. I do believe, that what you put into the world, it returns to you and I do not feel bad about painting cosmic arrows so the karmic boomerang can find the hand that threw it.
I will never build a spec house or lay 100 yards of concrete, but these topics you often cover are gold. Keep them coming.
I use to believe God does not punish on earth, as I sit back and watch the vengeful get punished I realize that most never grow up and never actually earn the label of men and women just little boys and girls
@Pokingthenear1960, I’ve wondered about God’s punishment and if we are punished on earth for our sins, I’m not sure what I’ve been gone through in my life would cover the punishment due. I’ve changed those thoughts a little and now I wonder whether my troubles here will count against what I need to pay.
I guess I’ll find out, at my age, sooner rather than later. Lol Have a good one and God Bless.
@@Hoaxer51
The Word tells us we can never repay what we owe, only He who was sent can, in our place. It is a free gift, so that man may not boast in himself, but rely solely on The Righteous Creator.
There is only one way to the Father.
@@Pokingthebear1960There’s no doubt in my mind that I bring difficulty on myself by my sins, but the most amazing thing is, that when I give up my rebellion then such sweet Grace comes in to fill the void. I wonder why I ever would harbor sin ever again, but yet, I do
I love how self aware & humble you were when you delivered this message. I don’t like when people get ‘preachy’ but you have such an elegant way of laying things out in a manner that people can relate to without feeling like they’re being talked down to. Great job Scott.
I have to admit that this is the FIRST time that I have listened to your words regarding scripture, and our purpose on this earth.
Your words were profound, and easy to understand.
I am a person that is guilty of holding grudges. I have tried to forgive, but I do NOT FORGET!
But your words have started me thinking. Thank you.
Not even 10 seconds in and i know it's going to be shared with everyone i know that needs to see it. Thank you and God bless you Scott for the invaluable lessons you teach
A craftsman discussing a carpenter, very appropriate. Thank you for your wisdom but also for your honesty.
Humanity needs leadership like you
*discipleship.
Aka discipline.
Not enjoyable at the beginning, but righteously rewarding in the end.
Words like these always hit hardest when they come from someone as respectable as this.
Thank you, I needed to hear this today.
I really enjoy listening to a wiseman like you these days. We really need it......
I love how you weave essential insights into how to craft a rich life into the content aimed at crafting beautiful and lasting things.
"Blessed are the peacemakers..."You've touched on a topic I've wrestled with most of my 77 years. My conclusion at this time is that a distinction must be made between personal injury, and injustices done by others to others. Hopefully we all grow as we age to suffer offenses with grace and mercy (knowing that we have offended others and desire the same). At the same time, we are not to turn a blind eye to the injustices in the world around us. Those who know the Prince of Peace are best equipped to weigh situations and respond appropriately. God grant us the faith, wisdom, and courage to do so.
"Give up the idea that exacting revenge will ever bring peace,because it won't".I love this guy,thinking and believing the things that he does,and not afraid to make a public video expressing it.A fellow tradesman,too.
This man is a father I’ve never had. Thank you for the healing I deeply needed this day. I hope you have a wonderful and long beautiful life. Take care
I'm not an atheist, I'm an antitheist but I hear you and I respect you. Wise words come from all sides of any debate. We just have to allow ourselves the opportunity to hear the speaker.
I really love that you recognize the best tool in the toolbox for a tradesman is his character ,and the quality that comes out of being free from offense. Thank you sir.
Good one man. "I was wrong, please forgive me" is such a SELF HEALING thing to say, ever mind the release it gives to the other person. A very good and wise word!
“Revenge is like a boomerang. Don’t use it.”
-My Grandfather
Grandparents are amazing source of advice
What do you call a boomarang that desn't come back? .. A Stick.
Revenge has plagued the Black community for generations
Needed this video over a decade ago. Thanks for talking about this subject with incredible wisdom
BRILLIANCE. Too many of us love a soapbox, myself included). You have managed to discuss this topic while avoiding a pushy dialog. Just what I needed right now. Thank you.
There is joy in helping others, it's called altruism. It helps to volunteer, to do some community service without getting anything back for your time or money beside the joy of helping someone else. I learned this by having kids, and making that sacrifice so they can have a better life. For me, a bit of exercise each day helps alot. Spend some time working on your breathing and living in the moment. I learned that breathing helps, from marksmanship and having to control my body to maintain a consistent sight picture on the target while holding up the rifle. Pulling the trigger is a choice. Welding is very similar. Nobody is perfect, but peace in the moment helps over the long run. Eating an elephant, can be accomplished, one bite at a time. You just have to set aside some time for yourself, to take that time to live in the moment and not live for the past or the future. The hardest part is letting yourself make mistakes, letting yourself be human.
Happy Wednesday!
~Mike
How apropole.
I'm going for a job interview and the guy that had the most experience, but didn't make it through the first round is already on his revenge circle. I'm bringing this energy into the meeting. Thank You.
Being able to be an ambassador for the cause and living in peace. Thank you. From Eastern Oregon.
I had never considered the law of Moses as a step upwards. Very insightful. Great thoughts.
And yet some people are going backwards... degenerating... to the law of the desert and below. Others are funding them and are on the same degenerate journey.
Yes, I'm talking about Zios and their corrupted Western backers.
Two deep, wide graves indeed.
Well said! Revenge poisons the soul. You end up hurting those you do love and those that need you, simply because you are focused on revenge. I now find myself praying that I may not mimic the actions that have hurt me, and I offer my hurt as a means to heal those who have hurt others. This is the good work indeed.
Great video. I recently went through a nasty work situation with a coworker who's fallen off his rocker for one reason or another and has become extremely paranoid and borderline malevolent. After turning my cheek a couple times, I decided it was better to take a transfer than to start down the path of revenge. I remember my younger days in the yard when I'd knuckle up with someone to sort out a problem but I'm much more at peace moving on. You're a great teacher.
Thank you Scott for a wonderful message. I have heard a similar saying about poison and not forgiving. "Its like me drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die". Keep up the good work.
Your words, coming from a craftsman and businessman, landed more powerfully on me than if they had come from a preacher. (No disrespect at all to preachers, but they're EXPECTED to say things like that.) Thanks for having the courage and humility to say something important in a forceful way that doesn't sound judgey.
absolutely agree; i think it's because most preachers nibble around the edge of living out in the real world with the daily grind
A preacher that leaves home at 18 to go to seminary, and enters the ministry at 22 knows nearly nothing about the world. They know little of the actual struggles real people deal with every day. I will put 100X more stock in a sermon from a craftsman, than I will from a modern day pharisee.
In a sense, Scott is a preacher. He is, or was in the Stake Presidency for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I could listen to him ALL day!!!!
Thank you , for addressing this , I grew up with this mentality , but when it really comes down to reality it is so hard to follow through with. My mother's passed away in September as did my relationship with my brother . For some reason he decided to go behind everyone s back and for the lack of vocabulary be greedy towards his siblings . I am struggling daily with at a minimum not trying to think about it or him. This word helps me to refocus on trying to move past the issue and just live life and focus on my immediate family wife and kids .
Brother. I was there. My Mom and Dad died recently, three months apart. My Sister turned out to be a narcissist, which I didn’t even know what that was, but boy did I find out. The sleepless nights. Suddenly waking up at 4 a.m. (on the nights that I did sleep) thinking about all the words she said,the manipulation, and I remember gritting my teeth. I woke up thinking about it. I talked to God about wanting to get over it. To not seek revenge or to be like her. I knew I shouldn’t pray for her demise or to be satisfied when bad things happened to her. It affected me, my family, and my work and I wanted out of it, to heck with the money, it was being taken advantage of by my own flesh and blood, the one that I should trust above all others, that hurt the most. I hope you find peace, I did, finally. In my anguish I wound up gritting my teeth so hard during my sleep, that I wound up breaking a tooth. The root canal and the cap and my bills for it all gave me something else to think about for a while 😅. Don’t be like me. God is watching us, and vengeance is His. Not yours. His vengeance will be just and it will be severe and when you think about that, you actually start to feel pity for them. Your loss will be restored in other ways.
@sport07-o2l thank you that sounds exactly like what I am going through even the tooth.
@@sport07-o2lI had a very similar experience with my sister when my parents died. I finally got to the point that I just prayed for peace for her, in hopes that it would spread to the people that she affected. The things that I worried about then are no longer issues. Good will come to those who do right, just be patient. My wife said " death and money do strange things to people".
I’m basically an agnostic who still believes in the teachings of Jesus, but you just took me to church, EC. I love it when you post videos like this. You reached me. Thank you.
God will always provide you with what you need, when you need it most. Thank you EC for being the reminder and deliverer of the message I needed in this season.
Ive had the book "Aphorisms of Confucius" for years that my mom gifted me, i read it every once in a while and its a great one.
Didnt realize this would be a philosophy channel but here we are! Thank you for all your thoughts and lessons that you share with us. I enjoy the videos and it genuinely makes my day better when i watch them. Hope you have a good day and a good year ahead.
Scott, I love you, brother 63, old roofer and still doing it. I love what you preach. Be it building or this right on the head of the nail.
Coming into my 50’s I can appreciate The Book as the key to life, but I’m glad to experience eternal insight in secular wisdom. This summer, I read Marcus Aurelius… and the note on my journal reads … the best revenge, is not to be like your enemy. Fascinating that a stoic would take that to heart.
Thanks!
"We forgive others not because they deserve it, but because we deserve peace" I would agree sometimes, especially in the moment, it's easy to feel as you've been wronged and it's okay to allow yourself to feel that but overtime, hanging on to those feelings, plotting or waiting for your time to 'get even' is a road to a diminished life. Revenge never feels as sweat as you imagine it to be because deep in your heart, you realize you've hurt another human being.
Also, I try to keep in mind that I can't not think about the pink elephant, once I've thought of it. I have to focus on something else to clear my mind. For me, that is sometimes making a list of things I'm grateful for. Resentment and gratitude don't co-exist well in my mind, so filling up on gratitude will diminish resentment. And, like everything else, it didn't work the first time I tried to focus on gratitude. It turns out that feeling gratitude is a SKILL. It has to be learned and practiced if I want to be good at it, like every other skill.
This is one that I really like, it's amazing how it's helped me go from being a glass-half-empty to glass-half-full person.
Excellent points, certainly true in my personal experience. Someone said, "You can't push darkness from a room, but you can turn on the light!" You can't expect dark thoughts to begone unless you replace them with with something better. Nature abhors a vacuum; so does the mind.
I also know someone who was hated by her unbalanced mother-- chased with a knife and screamed at etc.-- and that situation led to a life of mental illness and receiving further abuse. She took a counselor's advice and started each morning writing down things she could be grateful for. She said after about two years of doing that-- and some days it was WORK-- her mind was rewired and she was free! She still makes sure to practice thankfulness.
The timing of this video could not be more perfectly placed, and your wisdom continues to inspire me to work forward. Thank you for the work that you do.
Wadsworth, these are my favorites of all of the insights or lessons from this channel.
A sinner saved by grace. A prodigal son.
Keep up the good work!
This is GREAT!!!!!!! Love the voice you bring to and for TRADESMEN! "Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom".
Once in a while those of us in the trades have something to contribute to the spirituality of the world. You run into these people on the job sometimes. Thanks for this excellent sermon. You are one I would listen to intently during a break. I would certianly watch carefully to see your building methods.
This was a timely topic for me...I'm just about at my 67th time around the sun and have struggled with this conundrum most of my life. For the most part the good side of me has won the battle. I'm over five years into a bitter divorce and have had more than half of my pension and assets taken away ....this is the toughest test yet of my righteousness. Thanks again for the well timed post.
Striding confidently through your elderhood. Well done for doing your bit, man. I don't share your religious beliefs, but that's no matter. This world needs mature and loving leadership, and it's unlikely to come from the tops of the hierarchies we have allowed to arise. Words from a Carpenter; they often do the trick, eh? - one of the reasons that this trade drew me in.
With admiration and brotherly love.
That's a mistranslation, "first dig two graves" means, make sure you have an extra hole incase someone sees you taking out the first guy so you don't spend all night digging holes.
I went through a series of toxic relationships that i ended and boy did the other individuals come at me for revenge. The first of those angered my friends and family, but while I sat in a cell waiting to see if charges would be pressed (thankfully the accusations were recognised as the vengeful fantasies they were), I didn't feel anger or resentment. Never have. My overriding emotion was pity, at least initially, and then from that forgiveness. That this other person who I had tried my hardest to grt along with, could be driven to such an act of revenge, meant there was a darkness playing out in their personal psychology, childhood trauma in this case. And so how can one be angry with a wounded child? I was blessed with a stable and loving childhood. And so I pushed past pity to forgiveness. They could be anyone other than who they are. None of us can. And so we need to forgive ourselves and others when things go south. A later relationship ended with a social media smear campaign against me. This angered me more because I'd put 5 years into the relationship, compromising and deviating from my true path in life. On reflection I think I was manipulated by a narcissist (pun intended). But a little more time went by and I realised that it was the same story. An unstable childhood, an unloving parent... and so I forgive them. Don't grt me wrong, I didnt keep them in my life, but forgiveness is about you not them. It was my seeming waste of effort for 5 years I was sore about. But then I met my wife and we have 2 beautiful children together. Every moment of my past had lead me to the point in time and space where I met my wife, therefore she justifies my very existence. And my path intersected with hers when I learnt to forgive. When I learned to respect myself. And when I learned to let go. And now we take that forward as we raise our kids.
Great video, keep up the good work!
Still some of the best information, education, and production. The item looks and sounds great as well as is presented by someone who understands 'presenting'. Thank you for not using a ridiculous 'podcast' mic and being subtle with the clip on. Still would like to hide that as well or use a boom....but enough about me. Thanks for the valuable and wise words. Always a treat to watch!
Excellent sermon. It has taken me my lifetime to slowly evolve into the mindset that the best revenge is no revenge. We are all better when we reach that point. Thanks.
My dad was taken from us when I was 10 yrs old. Im now 50. My mom never remarried, she focused her time and all her love on raising 5 kids. I missed having a good earthly father figure. I have 3 kids that I've been blessed to raise, Being a good father is a hard job, and very necessary in our culture. Thank you for taking part in that role even for myself.
I am also a lifelong grudge holder, but the way I have dealt with it, if I have at all, is to understand that I am only responsible for the actions of the person that looks back at me in the mirror. What I choose to do, how I choose to respond is the only thing in my control. My granddaddy told me long, long ago "if you ain't gonna help, then don't hinder".
I'm adding that saying to my memory bank.
This is very profound; I’ve always thought of “an eye for an eye” as being about justice, I’ve never seen it as a limiter for escalation.
That's how a pastor explained it to me.
I was not expecting that, but I really appreciate it... Hope that whatever may have inspired it is resolved amicably, but always nice to hold that positive resolution in one's self regardless... cheers.
Thank you for the video; it was much appreciated. I was a bit grumpy with a few contractors today. Listening to your advice has inspired me to be more empathetic tomorrow.
So many great lessons across many subject matter areas. Thank you,always, Scott.
Forgiving is healing. The story of Louis Zamperini in “Unbroken” really helped me come to terms with this principle. Louis didn’t start healing and living his best life until he forgave “The Bird” Watanabe (and accepted Christ as his Savior).
Amen Brother! The energy wasted on revenge just makes things worse and gains you nothing...
Thank you for posting this. God brought it to my attention just when it was needed. I see, too, that the great Craftsman is keeping up the good work in your life! Peace to you.
You have such a great voice , godly wisdom & a great heart for Jesus . God bless & Thankyou .
In many cases, I see that the person who harmed me is already suffering so much by being who they are, that I don’t need to do anything to make their life worse. It’s not always the case, but often.
Amen, The Bible teaches us "revenge is The Lord's to decide to do and to do". Now as you said I am a hypocrite at times. For it is easy to let "the old man" have his way instead of the new man Christ makes out of us.(2 Cor 5:17). Thank you for having a Good conversation about the difficulties of life and how to overcome them....
Amen to your message Brother!
The power of attraction will keep your heart mind and soul healthy.
Great perspective. Jesus amplified, making sure there was no question as to "...what manner of man/woman we ought (need to be)...even as He is...when He said we are to forgive 7 x 70...and that we are to forgive ALL....and further, that only HE is the judge, not us. Noting that we are to judge not, lest we be judged.
I agree with you, in my 79 yrs....it is much easier to read/say than to do, but that's the purpose of life on earth = to learn and practice how "To keep up the good work" so we can be like Him.
Thanks for all your efforts in sharing your wise counsel...kinda like a Carpenter I've read about who practiced and showed the way,, about 2,000 yrs ago. :)
Wise people are wise, regardless of whether you happen to believe they are more or less divine, perfect or imperfect, than any other person. These words right here are delivered by a very wise person indeed, expressing wisdom hard-earned day after day, hour after hour, and moment after moment, over a life and career of integrity. Thank you, Scott.
I have to continually remind myself of these VERY wise and sage yet many times difficult to observe words from Apostle Paul. "Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:17-21 New American Standard Bible 1995 A very timely and excellent video post Scott! 👍👍
THE best woodworking video I've ever watched!!! Thank you, I needed that.
I think you and I have the same Great Teacher. Revenge is unnecessary thought and action. Justice has many forms. Leave the outcome to God. When we refuse vengeance, it is astonishing to others, because they predict outcomes based on their own barbaric mindset... To not retaliate or take revenge... This is how we do our part to save the world... And lives... Instead of digging any graves. Good message.
Well spoken Scott! A great message for all of us in this crazy world we live. As you say, and I will say it to you, “Keep up the Good Work!”
Thank you so much for sharing these words of wisdom! May God bless you and all who listen to this!
I don't think "turn the other cheek" is unpopular...just misconstrued. It doesn't mean to leave threats to you and yours unchecked. That's what it gets confused with, and why it's mostly rejected and unpopular. It means simply don't punish yourself spending time trying to punish your enemies. But I don't think any of these aforementioned wise men meant for us to ignore things that harm us and our loved ones, without confronting and contending with those threats. I think that distinction has to be made to get to the heart of why these words of wisdom are often rejected in the west.
In Middle Eastern culture, in relation to this, one cleans his backside with his left hand. Everything unclean, they do with their left hand. So when an Arab strikes you, they do so with their left hand as to defile you, make you unclean. So by turning the other cheek, they have to strike you with their right hand, thus making the one doing the striking, unclean, defiled, for their right hand has touched the body they just defiled with their left.
In their own culture, they defiled themselves.
Revenge is when you respond to lies with more lies. Defense is when you respond with truth. I'll let the reader ponder cases of violence and war.
My grandma took great care, when talking with me and teaching me about various beliefs (including her own), to say "some people believe X" or "I believe X". That respect for the concept that I may not agree (even as a kid) and that even in certainty and as my elder she could not dictate what Is and Isn't, spiritually speaking, is something precious that allowed me to hear her in ways I might not have. Grandma taught me about the golden rule long before she told me where it was from.
If someone is using a christian parable to talk with me about a greater moral question and they interrupt it with a declaration on, say, the bible being a Real Story That Happened, I feel compelled to stop thinking about the moral question we were engaging and mentally address, let's say, religion as a whole, and that is an unnecessary divide and perhaps prevents me from connecting with the intended topic, and thus growing.
Because ultimately, I think it is not necessary to agree on the reality of the bible in order to connect on some of the wisdom and perspective provided.
Anyway, I'm just sharing my point of view so that you have the tools to connect with me and folks like me (for whatever that's worth!) who try hard to be ethical without being religious, on topics like this.
Cheers and thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Very well said, and kudos to your Grandma.
If there was one jarring point in this video for me, it's where Scott (gently) interpreted himself to say "and if you accept that Jesus is divine - _and_he_is_ - ..."
It felt like the thing your wise Grandma would have couched in terms of her own belief. Still, I don't resent anyone their beliefs; I just prefer not to be told what is and isn't true, it lacks humility, that otherwise Scott displays in spades.
Thanks for sharing your wisdom.
Thank you Scott. Love your take
Thankyou for posting this! And especially not diluting the truth that has been given to us! God bless from Canada!
“As we sow so shall we reap” is the same as the western understanding of “karma”. Keep up the good works
That why I’ve never had an issue with the concept of revenge: someone wronged you, they sowed the seeds, so they get to reap the rewards of their actions.
It’s a blade that MUST cut both ways. If a saying is true, the inverse must also be.
Other people wrong us; it’s okay to wrong others too - just tell them to ‘turn the other cheek!’ right? Tell them ‘don’t seek revenge - it’s unhealthy!’ right?
If no one else ever wronged us, then maybe I wouldn’t believe it’s okay to also be the bad guy from time to time, but we don’t live in a perfect world.
An eye for an eye, and the whole world ends up blind.
Revenge of the type you describe doesn't ever deescalate, so mistakes, fuck ups, errors and the like all end up adding to the harm around us, to us and by us.
Until, that is, wisdom allows us a path upwards, like Scott describes from 'the law of the desert' to 'an eye for an eye' to 'before revenging, dig two graves'.
I've got my eye and ear open to wisdom because I want to live in a better world that doesn't have so much unnecessary hurt.
Thanks Scott, one more reason we love this channel.
For me, hate and regret are very similar emotions. They are forever and can eat you up inside. I try to avoid both…
That is so true, revenge is a poison that slowly eats away at you, the object or your revenge has no idea how you feel, ultimately the only person you hurt, is you........many thanks for taking the time to mkke this, kind regards from cold, damp great britain
Wanting revenge but not taking it..... been there. Only time makes it better. It can be hard. We're human. Love your talking with us.
Love this stuff. We don't talk enough about virtue and character.
I absolutely enjoyed this discussion. Sage advice.
Love hearing Jesus and Marcus Aurelius quoted together. It's great hearing a Christian point of view combined with a philosophical point of view. Watched a few of your videos and liked what i seen. This is the video that made me a subscriber. Thanks for sharing these words of wisdom.
A good message, regardless of one's religious bent. In addition for us individuals, it needs to be heard at the highest levels of politics.
Thank you Scott. Exactly on the mark. How the world could change with a little more forgiveness.
Thanks Scott. Learned more from this than the skill saw video. Seriously, a great source of inner peace, especially to quote Jesus.
The biblical virtue to forgive and forget has a lot of value. Thinking about what happened so you can prevent it from happening again is important.
I can move on if I'm wronged, sometimes even forgive, but never forget.
What is the practical difference between forgiving and forgetting?
@sblowes Example of forgiving but NOT forgetting: you can forgive a person (say for example an abusive parent when you were a child) but set a boundary (not forgetting the abuse, forgiving but NOT forgetting) to keep yourself safe from more abusive behavior.
Don't let people live rent free in your mind.
Forgetting is unlearning.
You can forgive a knave. But you should not ever forget he is a knave and act with prudence after.
If someone steals from you, you can forgive them and deny them the ability to steal from you again.
Forgiving is about withholding punishment. It doesn’t mean you have to trust them anymore.
Lots of wisdom in this one. Thank you sir.
Wise & timely commentary.
Good lesson!. There are and were many wise humans, labelling the as divine undercuts the potential the human animal has. I feel the refusal of many to get real and avoid mythology prolongs our lack of ethical progress. It also then leads to accepting far too many other lies/fables from other not so wise or well meaning humans. It's better overall to go ahead and use fables/allegory, but state the lessons as such. We have to move on and stop doing more damage with the lessons (long term) than the improvement we are trying to make short term. It's not easy because of traditions. Anyway the message was good!
Excellent advice. I've learned the hard way that getting even doesn't make you feel better, it just makes you feel as dirty as the person who harmed you.
You are lucky to live in a good place. Revenge prevents other people "in the hood" from messing with you.
Revenge can go along with other emotions/desires. It depends on the situation. I've gotten "revenge" in the past against people and helped put them in jail. I have no doubt if those people were left to go free, they would have harmed others as bad or worse than what they did to me. I've also tried to get revenge in the workplace and it did more harm to me than good. It really depends on the situation and requires careful thought about what you do and why.
In the wise words of God, through Paul. "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:". Ephesians 4:26. This is one of my favorite verses in all the Bible, because it is one that I personally need to keep me in check. I once asked my Grandma, "How have you and Grandpa managed to stay married for over 60 years?". She told me that if they had a fight, they would always solve the issue before they went to sleep that night. This is literally putting those living words of scripture, into practice. Thanks EC for sharing this today!
This lesson falls right in line with that old Norse chestnut "Rothgar avenged the murder of his father and the rape of his mother by living well".
Your explanation of the Mosaic law replacing the 'Old World' system of revenge is fascinating and is not something I have ever heard from a biblical teacher. I've never even heard that perspective. You might add to that, this: while an eye for an eye was codified, that exactitude was rarely, if ever actually followed. Usually there was compensation made to the offended party first because the people knew how detrimental that exactitude was if followed. It would mean the loss of the ability of one to feed himself or his kin or the loss of one's life even.
Thank you for sharing these wise words. I really needed to hear this!
Thanks Scott, i needed that reminder. Its easy to be that way but its something to avoid.
Many poeple think "Turn the other cheek" is about being a pushover. It's not. It is meant to make the other side to think about what they are doing. But will it work in the real world? Maybe it's just a thought experiment to help you look at things differently.
This man is a fine example of how it is possible to live in and participate in the modern world and yet not be consumed, chewed up, and spit out by it.
He has the advantage of living most of his life before iPhones were a thing, but I think he realizes that from here on out the rest of us are going to need some guidance that only a perspective from previous generations can offer.
If you haven’t yet picked up on the double meaning of “keep up the good work”, the other “good work” is the good work of helping your fellow man, working to be a good member of your family, community, and the world. Working to be a good example and lead those who come after us down a good path in life. This is his work now. It is the good work. Thank you sir. Keep up the good work.
"let your will be done, Lord, not mine", words to aspire to, not so easy to live
Thank you very much for the reminder.
Spot on my friend. What an encouragement!
You are so chill, and so supportive, and so cooperative, and so well-wishing, it's hard to imagine you holding a grudge, let alone feeling the need to explore the pros and cons of revenge. I hope (and trust) that whatever prompted this will have a positive outcome.
edited to add
Not a Christian. Love the teachings of Jesus.
There is a saying, "The first time is shame on you, the second time is shame on me." I keep forgiveness for those that truly have experienced remorse for their actions, though it is not for me to force remorse onto them. Life is too short for revenge or grudges, there are better things to spend our energies on. But I don't have to forget a wrong and allow it to happen a second time. I do believe, that what you put into the world, it returns to you and I do not feel bad about painting cosmic arrows so the karmic boomerang can find the hand that threw it.
Thank you for such a beautiful message
Thank you for this.