Heap those coals

If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink. You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads, and the Lord will reward you. (Proverbs 25:21-22)

We know Jesus told us to turn the other cheek, but what does this 'heaping burning coals on their head' thing have to do with forgiveness? As we almost assuredly know, when wrong is done to someone, revenge is the usual response, not forgiveness. When we show compassion and kindness to those who have offended us, refusing to 'retaliate' for the wrongdoing, it might just confuse our enemies! If we are fortunate, it will cause them to examine their own heart in the matter and perhaps even come to the conclusion that a different behavior on their part would have been better.

Back in the times this passage was penned, coals were shared with each other as a means of starting and maintaining a fire for warmth and cooking. To 'heap them upon their head' didn't mean they just poured them on them but rather to put them in an earthen pot for them to be carried upon the head to the location where the fire needed to be started. A 'sojourner' in the land had no coals of his own, oftentimes knocking on a stranger's door to request a 'heaping pot' of coal to start their own fire. It was a kindness shared among the people of the day as matches had yet to be invented!

What is being pictured here is going the extra mile when you have been offended rather than retaliating to choosing to become angry and bitter over the matter. It isn't likely our first response to an offense, but it definitely is the best! The idea that our enemy may find comfort in our response isn't usually our first thought, is it? We most likely want to strike them in an equal or worse manner than they struck us. To extend kindness doesn't hurt our enemy, but equally so, it doesn't hurt us. In fact, if we would stop to consider what an unkind response to our offender does to US, we might just begin to 'heap those coals' of forgiveness just a bit quicker.

It has been said that holding a grudge or being unwilling to forgive another hurts the one holding onto the offense much more than it does the offender. I believe this is the purpose of letting go of the offense and blessing the offender. We never know what will happen in the heart of the one who has been treated kindly in the face of unkindness. God does, though, and he will do more through our kindness than we ever could accomplish or imagine. Just sayin!