But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head.
Christ’s Sermon on the Mount is considered by many as a series of moral teachings by which we should all try to abide. The clarion call of the world today, is to stand up for your rights, even at the expense of others. And the world often portrays Jesus as a bit of a push-over with His teachings on being meek and mild-mannered, loving your enemies, blessing those who curse you, and praying for those that despitefully use you. As Christians, it is only right and proper to show an enemy kindness and consideration. Indeed, the prayers of a righteous man offered on behalf of his enemies, can produce some effective results. Giving positive good for negativity and evil, is a principle that is not new. This is a concept that is found throughout Scripture and is taught in each dispensation. In this verse, Paul is quoting from Proverbs 25: “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink.” This verse in Romans gives a glimpse into the other side of the coin that graciously feeds an enemy when he is hungry and provides drink for him when he is thirsty: “For in so doing,” we read “you will be heaping fiery coals on his head.” Scripture reveals that returning good for evil and showing kindness to an antagonist, may result in one’s adversary feeling guilty for his unkindness and may cause him to admit his fault. Paul describes this counter-measure as: “Heaping burning coals on his head.” The outcome of combatting evil acts and wickedness with goodness, can often cause those that oppose us to burn with shame, and can even result in bringing them to repentance and ultimate forgiveness. Nevertheless, there are times when countering evil with good can embolden an enemy to commit even greater atrocities against a person they hate. Similarly, it should be noted that when evil is countered with good from bitterness of heart or a resentful spirit, it is counter-productive. Good deeds done from an impure motive, with an ‘I’ll show them’ attitude, carried out reluctantly because it is the ‘proper thing to do’, or to elevate one’s popularity in the eyes of others while concealing bitterness within, is not what this verse is teaching. We are clearly told that vengeance on an enemy is not our remit. Vengeance of evil belongs to God, and we must never take from the Lord what is rightfully His. Vengeance is the sacred premise of God, and a day is coming when He will judge the world, and all the evil acts perpetrated on His people, in righteousness. It is not God’s will that anyone should perish, including our bitter enemies. It is God’s desire that all come to repentance and trust in Him for the forgiveness of sin, and if we honor His will by reacting to acts of evil with deeds of kindness, maybe it will help to bring a sinner to repentance and give glory to God. It is not always easy to repay evil with good, but His grace is sufficient to enable us to love our enemies and to do good to those that despitefully use us; to feed a hungry enemy and provide him with a drink when thirsty. When we obey His Word there is rejoicing in heaven, especially if a sinner is brought to repentance. But a day is coming when God Himself will avenge His people, and on that day burning coal and the fiery judgement of the Lord will rain down on every unrepentant evildoer. The mercy and grace of God is available to all, and as His children, we should demonstrate that same mercy and grace to the lost, including our enemies. The responsibility of our enemies is to come to repentance while our responsibility is to obey God’s Word: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink,” and to do it in love.
Spiritual Steve 