The Plumbline

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...

Francis of Assisi reminded us, "It is in pardoning that we are pardoned." Errors or offenses happen, don't they? We might be the offender, or the offended, but either way, there can be a significant amount of distress caused. Consequences are 'due' whenever there is an offense. Eat a few extra calories each day and the 'offense' will end up with the scale tattling on your indiscretions! Drive consistently over the speed limit and you are likely to encounter a radar enforcement of your 'offense' at some point that will cost you a significant amount of time or money to deal with your 'offense'. The more we 'offend' or are 'offended', the more we will come to see these occurrences are not without consequence - unless there is an outright forgiveness of the offense. For if you forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins], your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others [nurturing...