Treat your enemy with kindness
Wednesday 3rd October 2018
'You will heap coals of fire on his head.' Proverbs 25:22 NKJV
The Bible tells us, 'If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you' (Proverbs 25:21-22 NKJV).
What does it mean to 'heap coals of fire on his head'? Charles Swindoll explains that, in ancient days, people heated their homes and cooked their meals on a small portable stove. A person who ran low on hot coals would need to go and replenish their supply. The container was usually carried on the head, so as the person passed beneath the first-storey windows of neighbouring houses, any neighbours who had extra coals in their possession would reach out of the window and place them in the container on top of their head. The person would then return home with a pile of burning coals on their head, and a ready-made fire for cooking and keeping warm. So 'heaping burning coals on someone's head' became a popular expression for a spontaneous and courteous act that one person would voluntarily do for another.
Luke 6:27-28 (NCV) says, 'Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who are cruel to you.' So, we have a choice: to experience the short-term satisfaction of retaliating, or to show grace, generosity and kindness to everyone, even those we dislike.
So what now? Who's treated you badly recently? Make an effort to pray for them, or to bless them practically.
Wednesday 3rd October 2018
'You will heap coals of fire on his head.' Proverbs 25:22 NKJV
The Bible tells us, 'If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you' (Proverbs 25:21-22 NKJV).
What does it mean to 'heap coals of fire on his head'? Charles Swindoll explains that, in ancient days, people heated their homes and cooked their meals on a small portable stove. A person who ran low on hot coals would need to go and replenish their supply. The container was usually carried on the head, so as the person passed beneath the first-storey windows of neighbouring houses, any neighbours who had extra coals in their possession would reach out of the window and place them in the container on top of their head. The person would then return home with a pile of burning coals on their head, and a ready-made fire for cooking and keeping warm. So 'heaping burning coals on someone's head' became a popular expression for a spontaneous and courteous act that one person would voluntarily do for another.
Luke 6:27-28 (NCV) says, 'Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who are cruel to you.' So, we have a choice: to experience the short-term satisfaction of retaliating, or to show grace, generosity and kindness to everyone, even those we dislike.
So what now? Who's treated you badly recently? Make an effort to pray for them, or to bless them practically.
