Germany

A fascinating study out of Germany last week showed that vindictive people, those who retaliate because of perceived wrongs, whether real or imagined, lead unhappier lives. They are more likely than others to engage in acts of sabotage or to refuse to work if aggrieved. They have fewer friends and are more likely to lose their jobs than people who respond positively to the good things done to them.

The research was based on an annual economic survey made by the German Institute for economic Research and the results reported in the Economic Journal. Essentially the researchers found that tit-for-tat behavior (they call it “reciprocity”) is widespread in Germany. But people who respond with good for good tend to earn more and to have more friends and greater happiness than people who respond with bad for bad.

Imagine that! It is almost biblical in its moral implications.

Almost.

The Torah does speak of an eye for an eye, but this seems intended to limit vengeance, for Moses also issued the command, “Vengeance is mine says the Lord, I will repay.” Elsewhere, as in the story of Joseph, we are shown forgiveness in action. And there are instructions to love our neighbor as ourself, to overlook offenses, and the like.

The New Testament gives an even better formula for happiness. Not merely are we to forgive wrongs, but to do good to our enemies. We are to love our enemies as God loved us when we were his enemy. As Jesus phrased it, “If you do good only to those who do good to you, you are no better than the tax collectors.”