“On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ ” (Romans 12:20)
Do you really want to make someone pay for hurting you? Make him a sandwich. That’ll show him.
Paul mines this wisdom from Proverbs to further his case for why we should not try to get revenge (see yesterday’s devo). And it’s an idea that is full of surprises. First, feed your enemies. In response to their evil to you, do good to them.
But just when you think that sounds unrealistically spiritual and pious, Paul says you should do it to hurt them – to set their heads on fire! Get this: He is not saying we should turn off our desire to defeat our enemies, after all; he’s just saying revenge – paybacks – don’t work.
If you really want to win in the end, kindness, forgiveness, and a good lunch are your most powerful weapons.
Think: Would you say you have any real enemies? Could you ever see yourself doing something good for them? Do you believe what the Bible says here that goodness hurts the hurters?
Pray: Ask God to help you to be willing to feed your enemies and trust him to take care of you.
Do: Read what Jesus said to his conquered fellow Israelites about how to respond to their enemies in Matthew 5:43-48.