In Proverbs 25:21, Solomon, who is known as “the wisest man who ever lived,” gives us a front row seat on insight to loving people well and what it truly looks like when we put it to work in our lives. He issues a challenge to believers by saying we are called to not only love our friends, but also our enemies. Most of us inwardly gasp and cringe at the thought and begin to process through why it is hard to love that certain someone. Solomon’s words here are a charge to love by doing, or what I like to call the “boots on the ground” kind of love. In verse 21 he states, “If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink.” In other words, don’t just say that you love them; put action behind it and love in deed.
Society today seems to be inundated at times with differing opinions and hostile attitudes. In our culture, we see it on display relationally, spiritually, politically… you name it. Challenges to love can present themselves in different ways. There may be people who treat us poorly, who don’t look like us, don’t believe like we do, don’t talk like us, weren’t “raised” like us, and may just flat out treat us poorly. There are many vast differences between Christianity and other religions, but the uniqueness of Christianity stands out boldly in its call to love our enemies. We live in a world that constantly tells us who and how to love, preaching a give and take sort of gospel. Culture commands us to love only those who return it, to only be loyal to our own friends, to only love those who may agree with us or who have been good to us. But the Bible speaks of a different approach and tells us we are to love everyone, even our enemies.
“If your enemy is hungry, give him food! If he is thirsty, give him something to drink!
For you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.” – Proverbs 25:21-22
Love has an ability to penetrate the heart of a person that no other force has, especially love undeserved and unearned. The Bible gives a metaphor here and says just as metals are melted by heaping coals upon them, so is the heart softened by kindness. Heaping coals of fire upon the head of an enemy is a metaphor referring to the pangs of conscience that an enemy will experience when he receives such undeserved treatment. There’s nothing that can turn the heart of a person like being given love when he hasn’t earned it. This is addressed all throughout the New Testament:
- Matthew 5:46 – “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same?”
- Luke 6:33 – “If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same.”
- Romans 12:14 – “Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.”
“Don’t rejoice when your enemies fall; don’t be happy when they stumble.” – Proverbs 24:17
Have you ever been tempted to inwardly rejoice when someone you didn’t like failed or maybe got into some sort of trouble? When you heard of their hardship, maybe you were tempted to think, “That serves him right,” or, “She deserves what she gets.” This is not the way God’s love reacts to situations. Our desire to rejoice in our enemy’s hard times simply does not reflect the nature of God. The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians that love rejoices not with iniquity, but rejoices with the truth. Peace and power in your own heart are unlocked when you begin to pray good over your enemies. Instead of rejoicing when they fail, pray that they succeed in what they do. This says two things: that you are making the godly decision to love beyond reason, and “I trust them to you Lord, and believe You are just and faithful to all of us.” How we respond to other people’s troubles and blessings alike says a great deal about our own spiritual maturity.
You may ask, “How do I love my enemies?”
Our only hope for loving our enemy is to be a new creation in Christ. And our only hope for being a new creation in Christ is to be reconciled to God through the death of his Son.” – John Piper
To put it simply, we love because He first loved us. We’ve been given a command to love beyond our logic or reasoning, which means we love with no excuses. So much easier said than done, but I believe with a willing heart and the Spirit’s empowerment, this is part of the higher calling we are able to live out. Loving people this way will sometimes transcend our logic and our understanding. We are called to love not always because of, but sometimes in spite of. After all, this is every one of our stories of redemption. Christ loved us first, even while our hearts were against Him; while we were His enemy. He will never ask something of us He didn’t model Himself, and what greater example do we have to follow here than Jesus? It is truly His kindness that leads us to repentance. Romans 5:10 says, “For if, while we were God’s enemies we were reconciled to Him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life.”
He loved us at our darkest, and we must in turn, love.
Love big, love deep, love well… in word and in deed.
Forever grateful for amazing Grace,
Meshali
Meshali Mitchell is a photographer, currently residing in Dallas, Texas and available for travel worldwide. What defines her most is her heart for Christ and passion for people. She believes it’s the simple things that make life beautiful…like a good book, a front porch swing and chips and salsa. You can see Meshali’s photography and read more of the heart behind her work on Instagram + Her website : @meshali /// https://meshali.co
I just hadded a conversation about how troubling it is to see all the hate and anger coming out of all the media (TV, social, etc). This message is so timely. But I do struggle as a Christian and an American impacted by 9/11: I am fearful of refugees, from any country. It is easier to practice love in deed within my community, but when I think on a broader scale, I am overwhelmed by the savage imagery of past & recent terrorist events. I will continue to pray for our Leaders and for my own fears. Thank you for a powerful message.
Danielle so gkadto have you with us! I think we all struggle with this to a degree. I loved how the blog talked about melting the hearts of enemies with kindness and I think that softening of the heart goes both ways. God is good.
Mondee ~LGG Encourager
Thank you Meshali! WOW! This is so true and so difficult. I pray that I can do this very thing. I know I sometimes get wrapped around the axle about things and I need to step back and let God handle them and love those who seem to be against me.
Jessica, thank you for finding today’s post inspiring. Getting wrapped up around the axle in life is something we all struggle to avoid. May we all be able to love others “not because of. It but inspite of”. Have a wonderful day.
“I need to step back and let God handle them”
This is so true, Jessica! I struggle with this as well, but must remember that it isn’t my “job” to determine if someone deserves me love…if it were based on what was deserved, I definitely didn’t deserve salvation and God’s forgiveness!
Thank God, we have a loving, merciful Father who teaches us how to love how He loves!
Amen!
What a beautiful, timely blog post today, Meshali! Thank you so much for sharing your heart.
Your statement: “Love has an ability to penetrate the heart of a person that no other force has, especially love undeserved and unearned” really hit home for me. I know it’s the same words as the metaphor in today’s scripture, but hearing them expressed in this way just stuck! There have been times in my life when I thought my heart was permanently hardened, then, praise God, LOVE broke through!
Jessica I’m with you! It’s hard not to get wrapped up sometimes! But through intentional praying and constant forgiveness we can do it. The words in this blog were so true and so beautiful. Being kind to people just because can soften a hardened heart. I think of how Jesus was treated by some and how he loved and forgave them and it makes me want to be more like him and less like me!
Mondee~LGG Encourager
This was such a burden on my heart when I first became a believer! I will never forget the day God gave me the freedom to love those who had hurt me. I was sitting in Church, the sermon was on loving and forgiving our enemies. It hit me like a ton of bricks, I almost ran to the altar that day! As my Pastor prayed with me and explained to me that I had to let go of pent up anger and harbored resentments, I had such a feeling of peace come over my body! I was covered in what I call “God-bumps,” and I felt so free! I had been at a stopping point in my walk with Jesus and wasn’t growing, I couldn’t figure out why! I was too busy holding on to those feelings of resentment, and wishing bad things on someone else! Since that day, I have learned to truly pray for, and love my enemies! It didn’t happen overnight, and I am still a work in progress, but the chains were immediately broken, and I was set free! Thank You Jesus! ?❤
Thank you for sharing this! I had a similar incident and I’m so thankful for gods grace and mercy. Loving our enemies may be one of the hardest things to do, but I know with the guidance of His word and the Holy Spirit we can do it! Again thank you for sharing.
Mondee~LGG Encourager
Thank you so much for sharing this Rachelle. I am in that spot right now with some family members, lots up pent up anger, bitterness and harbored resentments…just like you said. Your post is very encouraging and I’m so thankful you shared this with us.
What a beautiful, timely blog post today, Meshali! Thank you so much for sharing your heart.
Your statement: “Love has an ability to penetrate the heart of a person that no other force has, especially love undeserved and unearned” really hit home for me. I know it’s the same words as the metaphor in today’s scripture, but hearing them expressed in this way just stuck! There have been times in my life when I thought my heart was permanently hardened, then, praise God, LOVE broke through!
Love broke through!??
Beautiful post. Thank you for sharing. I’ve always like the saying, “Let go and let God” and now you’ve given me “Love big, love deep, love well… in word and in deed. ”
We need more love by deed in today’s world.
I agree Amy, we need more love by deed! Don’t just say it, Put action behind it and put love in deed. I loved these words today!
Mondee~LGG Encourager
Thank you Meshali! Such a timely message and reminder. I couldn’t help but think about “bread to eat” and “water to drink”. We were God’s enemies before His love filled our hearts, but because His love is so great He gave us His bread of life and living water – Jesus Christ. How can we not answer this charge and love like He loves?
Meshali….thank you sweet sister for sharing truth. Conviction, remorse, repentance and transformation can all be felt in this blog post today. And for those who have suffered great wrongs there is hope, knowing it is for their good that they choose love and forgiveness, blessing and not cursing even if their transgressor is never sorry.
This is lingering in my heart:
“To put it simply, we love because He first loved us. We’ve been given a command to love beyond our logic or reasoning, which means we love with no excuses. So much easier said than done, but I believe with a willing heart and the Spirit’s empowerment, this is part of the higher calling we are able to live out. Loving people this way will sometimes transcend our logic and our understanding. We are called to love not always because of, but sometimes in spite of. After all, this is every one of our stories of redemption. Christ loved us first, even while our hearts were against Him; while we were His enemy. He will never ask something of us He didn’t model Himself, and what greater example do we have to follow here than Jesus? It is truly His kindness that leads us to repentance. Romans 5:10 says, “For if, while we were God’s enemies we were reconciled to Him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life.”
He loved us at our darkest, and we must in turn, love.
Love big, love deep, love well… in word and in deed. ”
Thank you for sharing with us.
Meshali, this HITS HOME! I am in week 2 of a 4-week course equipping me (+ fam) for cross-cultural missions in Latin America. This same theme has been running through our classes the past few days, and God is getting my attention. What a wonderful, challenging post!
This, just this:
“How we respond to other people’s troubles and blessings alike says a great deal about our own spiritual maturity.”
God, grow me upward in Your love and forward in Your paths of righteousness !
Loved what you said about growing upward and forward! Thank you for sharing!
Mondee~LGG Encourager
What a beautiful post. I struggle so bad with some bitterness toward some family members and I guess I haven’t really forgiven them either. This post really made me think…if God wants us to love our enemies then I’m sure that includes family. Thank you for this post today, very encouraging.
Shannan, family can be a challenge! Keep praying and you will find the strength and softened heart your needing. The last study on forgiveness taught me so much about how freeing it is to forgive and be forgiven. I don’t know your situation but I know jesus loves you and can help you. God is good!
Mondee~LGG Encourager
What wonderful post! My Pastor talks about this often. We are to walk in love in all situations. I truly enjoyed reading this and this is a message that needs to be heard especially in the times we are in now.
Very Grateful for this message on LOVE, because I struggle with it daily. Thank you
It is amazing how God knows what you need,exactly when you need it! And this Bible study is exactly what I need, especially this specific day!
The day before we did these verses, a woman whom I am not particularly fond of, was removed from her position at work. She is a downright mean woman, and very prideful, two of many reasons she was removed as supervisor, and I felt happy. I rejoiced at the fact that she was losing her job. She didn’t lose her whole job, just basically got demoted. But the fact that I rejoiced in her failing was a sin.
And boy did God convict me on Friday when I read these verses, and this blog post! I immediately asked God for forgiveness and a change of heart towards her, and continue to ask for that. I am trying to see this woman through God’s eyes, and I know if I continue to seek Him and obey Him, He will show me how He sees her.
It is not only with this person that I struggle in this area, it is with others as well. This study couldn’t have come at a more perfect time!
God’s timing is always perfect, and I am so thankful for what he is teaching me through this series that you all have created in Him!
Thank you all for creating this series to help women grow in their faith and relationship with God!!!
Hi, could you please fix the writer’s website link in her bio? It’s leading to a very suspicious page. Her IG shows https://meshali.co/ as her website. Thanks!
Ps: Love this study!