Burning Coals Love – Part 1
Romans 12:20 (NKJV)
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head” Romans 12:20 (NKJV)
The Apostle Paul’s aforementioned statement on its face may seem confusing when one takes into consideration the previous verses where he admonished us that our love should be genuine (V 9), live in harmony (V 16), and make peace with all men (V 18). He said that by doing so we are heaping burning coals on our enemies’ heads.
Brethren, Romans 12:20 is actually a quote from the Old Testament, specifically Proverbs 25:21-22 which states, “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” – (NKJV).
Many of us believed that the ‘Hot coals love’ meant that being kind to our unrepentant enemies will guarantee their entrance into Hellfire and the Lord will reward us. The interpretation of these two Scriptures was skewed. Bible scholars have studied what the phrase, “heap burning coals” meant and presented two scenarios. The first scenario means to shut the mouth of our enemies by supplying them with more than they need, with the belief of stopping their anger and creating a stirring realisation about the meanness in their hearts when they realise our kindness is a stark contrast to theirs.
The second scenario may have to be contextualised in accordance with the culture that existed then in biblical times. It refers to a time when keeping one’s hearth fire alive was a life-saving necessity. If someone could not keep their fire going, they would go around the town, carrying a container on their heads asking for hot coals to rekindle their fire. Putting coals in the container on their heads will benefit them by fulfilling their needs and helping them.
Saints, either way we interpret this verse, it is evident that the Apostle Paul is admonishing us to pay kindness to our enemies instead of trying to hurt them. Let us not allow their mean or sinful actions to control us to the point that we risk losing our salvation in our attempt to seek revenge; rather, let us overwhelm them with kindness and overcome evil with good.
Prayer
Father, in Jesus’ name, we acknowledge the fact that as Christians; though blessed, we shall suffer all manner of persecutions in our neighbourhoods, places of employment, from our family members, etc., for our faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ. Armed with that reality, we pray that You give us the humility and courage to proclaim Your Excellencies, to our enemies so that You may also call them out of darkness into Your marvelous light. Amen!
Read: Psalm 11:5-7; 1 John 2:7-11
Bible Reading Guide: Psalms 127; James 1; Ezekiel 32; Ezekiel 33:1-20
