There is something in us that wants revenge when we have been hurt or wronged. Call it justice or getting even, we wish to invoke upon the other person what they did to us, and usually more. The best revenge isn’t retribution but serving them in love. What’s even better is the reward that God has for us is better than any feelings of satisfaction that can come from getting even.
Proverbs 25:21-22
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
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Last week we talked about loving your enemies. Today, Proverbs continues that theme by giving us practical tools on how to do it. Typically when you think about your enemy, the last thing you would think is to feed them if they are hungry, but that is what the Old Testament and New Testament (Rom 12:20) tell us. What you will find is that the Bible often tells us to do the exact opposite of what our human nature wants to.
The Right Motivation
There are two benefits to loving our enemy. First, they won’t know how to react to it. Your love will contradict how they treat you and what they have said about you. That will upset them and make others questions what they have heard. Second, by loving your enemy in this way, you will receive a reward from the Lord. Scripture doesn’t stipulate what this may be, but God knows the desires of your heart, and they might line up with that.
A Different Approach
The Church is to lead the way by our actions. By serving our enemy, we show those who are curious a different approach. They see the love of Jesus Christ in action. People close to you might question your sanity but don’t let that distract you from what God has called you to do. Your selfless giving will make a statement to your enemy, but it will change your heart most of all. We don’t have the time or energy to focus on how we have been wronged. Be set free by loving your enemy in an unexpected way.