Heaping Coals on our Enemies

Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. (Romans 12:20)

Many Christians read this Scripture incorrectly. They get excited because Paul said to throw flaming hot coals on the heads of our enemies. The coals of fire Paul mentioned weren’t a painful experience, it was a beneficial thing neighbors would do for each other.

In Bible times, it was important to always have a fire going in your house. If you let it go out, it would take longer to cook food or be protected from the elements. For this reason, it was important to always keep at least some red coals burning in the hearth so someone could quickly kindle the next fire.

However, if your neighbor’s fire went out for any reason, instead of trying to light a new one yourself, you would take a bowl, usually carried on your head, to your neighbor and ask them for a coal or two. Friendly neighbors would put their coals on the head of the one who had “lost their fire” and help to rekindle the dead flame in that house.

Understand the illustration that Paul is using here. Many of the people who are antagonistic toward you is because their own fire has gone out. They are no longer passionate about God (if they once were) and have no drive for the things of God. Their fire is dead. In sowing into their life, and not repaying evil for evil, you allow the fire that you have for God to rekindle the fire in their life. They get to see faith in action through you.

When you extend a hand of generosity to your enemy, you're acting as God's instrument of grace. You're disrupting the cycle of negativity and hatred. Your acts of kindness serve as a powerful testament to God’s love and power working through you.

Practical Application

When someone comes around you with an attitude, decide to respond in faith and love. When someone is mean and difficult, decide today that you will respond with faith and love. When you do so, believe in faith that you are rekindling a fire that has long gone out in the person who has treated you wrongly.

Proverbs 21:25; Matthew 5:44

Vengeance isn’t Mine

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. (Romans 12:19)

It’s easy to get frustrated by the world around us or the battles we face. Paul encountered many trials and tribulations as he worked in the ministry. In Romans 12:12, Paul gave us three things to never stop doing, even when difficulties come.

Human nature tempts us to seek retaliation when we've been wronged or harmed. It's a human instinct to want to repay evil with evil and to seek justice for ourselves. In fact, that was a part of the Old Covenant way of doing things; it said, “an eye for an eye.” However, as followers of Christ under the New Covenant, Paul advised us to take a different path.

Paul wrote, “give no place unto wrath.” The word give in this context means to yield or allow. Paul encouraged us to allow room for God's justice instead of taking matters into our own hands. Instead of responding to wrongs with anger and vengeance, Paul said we should trust in God’s justice to win out in the end.

Remember, God sees all, knows all, and is on the case to ensure that His way of right prevails over every instance of wrong.

Forgiveness isn’t just for the benefit of the wrongdoer, it’s for your own good. When you live life constantly seeking personal vengeance, it will perpetuate a cycle of harm and hostility to swirl around you all the time. When we take it upon ourselves to punish others, no matter what the cost, we are contributing to the problem, not to any form of resolution. Many believers have been blinded to the powerful truth in Romans 12:19 and become consumed by anger and resentment, which will poison your heart, mind, and relationships.

Sometimes the issue is that even when we give it over to God, we want Him to bring revenge immediately upon our enemies. Understand that God's timing is always perfect. He sees the bigger picture and understands the complexities of every situation far beyond what you see or understand. When we yield to His authority, we allow His wisdom and righteousness to guide us.

Practical Application

When someone hurts you, do not automatically look for an opportunity to fight back, tell them off, or attack them. Take a deep breath, talk to God, and turn it over into His hands.

Deuteronomy 32:35; Leviticus 19:18

The Quest for Real Peace

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. (Romans 12:18)

I’m sure if you have lived on this earth for any amount of time, you realize that conflicts, disagreements, and misunderstandings are not uncommon in our daily interactions with other people. The question Paul dealt with in Romans 12:18 is how do we, as followers of Christ, pursue peace in a world that is constantly filled with animosity and separation?

Paul began by saying, “If it be possible.” Paul acknowledged how difficult it can be to experience peace in every interaction. We live in a fallen, imperfect world, and living in peace with everyone isn't easy and may not always be possible. However, this phrase should not be used as an excuse to avoid peace; instead, should inspire us to seek it even in challenging circumstances.

The next phrase, “as much as lieth in you,” tells us about our personal responsibility to seek peace in every interaction we have. That phrase emphasizes that living peaceably isn't about external factors or situations, real peace begins within our own heart.

Living peaceably means being a person of humility that thinks of others first and implies a willingness for us to let go of our own ego and desires, and aspire to support, uplift, and help others around us.

It means being quick to forgive and slow to anger.

It means caring enough to seek after understanding even with those who offend us.

Why should we seek after peace? Simply because of who we are. If you identify as a child of God, you know we are called to reflect the character of our Heavenly Father. He is Jehovah Shalom, the God of peace.

He sent Jesus to make peace with us while we were yet sinners. He is the perfect example of the peace that we should allow to always govern our relationships.

Practical Application

Decide to practice actively listening to people and seeking to understand others before responding. When conflicts arise, don’t look for how to attack, but rather how to pursue peace at the moment. By doing so, God gets the glory, and you walk in favor.

1 Samuel 25:6; 2 Corinthians 13:11