If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you. (Proverbs 25:21-22)
It seems as though some people look at this passage as a means to an end. They want to send a lunch to their enemy and have $10,000 show up by dinner. As a bonus, they want their enemy to stand in awe and proclaim to all who will listen what a wonderful person you are, while everyone else sees what a louse he is (including him.)
Kosuke Koyama wrote an essay entitled, “The 3.5 Mile an Hour God,” in which He explains that while God can perform miracles in the blink of an eye, most of the time, He works at about the same pace that a person walks. He also seems content to work toward long-term goals in day-sized units. The reward we gain from doing good may be a long time coming.
There’s another consideration. We tend to see rewards as wealth, power, fame, or at least victory. But if you look through Scripture, you’ll find that God considers Himself the greatest reward. A second reward is our becoming “like the Most High.” The act of showing compassion, care, or hospitality to one’s enemies builds a Christlike character in us, if we don’t do it for the reward. That means that, ultimately, the act of giving food and water to an enemy is the victory or reward that we should seek.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:28-30) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ ” (Matthew 7:21-23) Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.” (Romans 3:4) What conclusion do you draw when someone who was raised in a Christian family and church, perhaps even playing a significant role in a chur...
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