by Tim Hall

The name "Leroy Brown" has lost some of its notoriety. Since Jim Croce's 1973 hit song told the story of "Bad, bad Leroy Brown", just the mention of that name sets the tune spinning through my mind. That may now change. A story carried by USA Today on August 24, 2004 is responsible.

According to that story, Leroy Brown, age 19, of Pine Bluff, AR discovered that his wife was being a little too friendly with another man. To show his disdain for her actions, he took the pants she wore on her latest outing and set them on fire. Alas, the fire got out of control and the house in which they lived was destroyed. Now a song is waiting to be written about "Sad, sad Leroy Brown".

The story brings to mind the old adage about cutting off one's nose to spite their face. That has always been a hard proverb for me to figure out exactly, but I think I get the gist. It points to the foolish attempts of one to extract vengeance on another, not realizing how much damage they themselves will incur. Leroy Brown certainly illustrated the principle.

Webster's defines "spite" as "petty ill will or hatred with the disposition to irritate, annoy or thwart". The offended one wishes to see the offender feel pain in some form, and actively works toward that end. In many cases, however, the one acting out of spite feels even more pain before the day is done.

God's ways are always best. What does the Lord advise when we've been wronged? "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. 'Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:19-21, NKJV).

Good people are often innocent victims of the schemes and devices of the wicked. But when the victim decides to make the perpetrator feel pain (in whatever degree), they move themselves out of the realm of "innocent". They have been overcome by evil, not being willing to wait for the judgment of God.

Leroy Brown probably now wishes he had learned this principle from Romans 12. How much easier his life would be if the Lord's will had prevailed in his situation. Sad, sad!