Forgiveness Begins With Ourselves

Romans 12:20–21 Therefore, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

What would you do if your enemy asks you for a favour or help? You would hesitate, would you not? We would often be bitter and unwilling to help. Such is the temptation because it is the easier way out. However, when we Christians allow this bitterness to control us, not showing the grace where it is most needed, it reflects badly not on our enemy, but on ourselves.

But what does the Bible teach us to do? “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.” Extending help to the one you hate is the best thing to do. Imagine, what is the worst that could happen? He would be angry and not figure out how you are still able to extend the grace to help him, “for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Alternatively, he might be touched by your good works, such that you have “overcome evil with good” and glorified God (Matthew 5:16). Either way, it is godly satisfying.

Maybe it is time to help that certain someone you hate. Forgiveness is not excusing the wrong done by the other person, but preventing their actions from affecting your heart. It takes more strength to swallow that pride and extend the help than to refuse it. David did not kill Saul even when he had the chance to; rather, he trusted God and always extended grace to Saul (1 Samuel 24). As David puts it, “May Jehovah judge between you and me, and may he avenge me from you, but my hand will not be against you. As a proverb of the ancient says: From wicked ones comes wickedness, but my hand will not be against you.” (1 Samuel 24:12)