Let’s Show Appropriate Mercy
Lack of mercy is costly. In World War II, when Hitler’s troops invaded Russia, Hitler insisted that the Russians be treated harshly and with no mercy. After seeing the mercilessness of the Germans, the Ukranians, who had initially welcomed the Germans as delivering them from communism, turned against the Germans while Soviet soldiers, who at first had been willing to surrender, now fought to the death. Likewise, the Bible relates a story in which a person who refused to show mercy was turned over to the torturers (Mt 18:33-34). That was an example of just mercilessness as will also be true at the Final Judgment. In at least some ways, then, life becomes more difficult when we are unwilling to show others mercy.
There are benefits to being merciful. It is those who show mercy to others who will be treated with mercy (Mt 5:7). The merciful develop other virtues of kindness, gentleness, love and the like. They become more Christ-like. They are less likely to be the recipients of revenge or have others oppose them as vigorously as would have been the case had they lacked compassion. After all, why would we strongly oppose someone who, without a hidden agenda, just wants to ease our pain?
What can we do to be more merciful? We should remove what would prevent us from being merciful. One example of something that would influence us to be merciless is our spending time associating with those who are cruel and merciless (Prov 13:20). Furthermore, it can help if we see others as being valuable since we would be more inclined to show compassion to those we view as being precious (Lk 15:20-24). Living by the Golden Rule of treating others the way we would like to be treated, would also incline us to be merciful (Mt 7:12). This mercy is kindness to others and to ourselves as well.
Unending pleasure in the next life; training for godly pleasure in this one.