“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 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. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”–Romans 12:19-21
There is a story told of a Baptist pastor during the American Revolution, Peter Miller, who lived in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, that enjoyed the friendship of George Washington. In Ephrata also lived Michael Wittman, an evil-minded sort who did all he could to oppose and humiliate the pastor. One day Michael Wittman was arrested for treason and sentenced to die. Peter Miller traveled seventy miles on foot to Philadelphia to plead for the life of the traitor. “No, Peter,” General Washington said. “I cannot grant you the life of your friend.” “My friend!” exclaimed the old preacher. “He’s the most bitter enemy I have.” “What?” cried Washington. “You’ve walked seventy miles to save the life of an enemy? That puts the matter in a different light. I’ll grant your pardon.” And he did. Peter Miller took Michael Wittman back home to Ephrata—no longer an enemy but a friend.
Many times the only thing standing between a new friend and us is kindness. People are usually unkind with others because they are hurting inside. They have been disappointed, let down, or hurt by someone they loved. So in turn, they take their anger out on others.The Bible is clear that our response to such unkindness and anger is to love. While our inner humanity urges us to exact revenge and revel in their downfall, God’s love in us demands that we have compassion on them and reach out to them in kindness.
Have you ever felt sorry for someone and sought to help them only to be met with a cold shoulder or an unkind response? That’s enough to cause anyone to become upset! But God shows us that even when others mistreat us or refuse our help, we are to be kind to them.
There are many ways to show kindness to your enemies. First, you can pray for them. The best way to develop a love for someone is to pray for them. Ask God to bless them and to heal their hurting heart.
Second, you can prefer them. If you work with them, ask them if they need you to get them anything. Take care of little things they are in charge of. Bring them coffee or their favorite drink. Without being patronizing or annoying, try to show your kindness to them each day.
And last, you can love them. Smile at them when you see them. Hurt for them when they hurt. Rejoice in their accomplishments. Genuinely love them and seek to communicate that love to them.
Think of someone you know who is always upset or perhaps mistreats you. How would Christ treat them? Show them kindness even when your flesh tells you to become upset and seek revenge. Your kindness may not always be met with appreciation, but remember Romans 12:21, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”(By Dr. Paul Chappell)
