How Are We To Treat Our Enemies?

 

The best person to imitate when dealing with our enemies is the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that when He was reviled, He did not revile back, but committed Himself to Him (The Father) that judges righteously (1 Peter 2:23). Jesus said in Matthew 5:44, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” That will never be easy to do due to the corruption of our minds and flesh. We want to quote the words of the “Godfather of Soul” James Brown. We want our BIG PAYBACK!

Waiting on the Lord to settle the score against our enemies takes much prayer, patience, faith, and endurance. Many will fail their fiery trial and take matters into their own hands and exact their own revenge. I want to explain Biblically why this is tragic.

Proverbs 24:17 tells us, “Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath from them.”

If we rejoice in our enemies’ destruction, we prove we are no better than they are. Secondly, the just punishment God would have executed against them, He may withdraw due to our sinful decision to exact our own revenge. Deuteronomy 32:35 says that vengeance is mine says the Lord; I will repay. To pay back our enemies’ evil with evil is sin (Rom 12:19). It also robs God of the glory of repaying our enemies Himself – a person who does so usurps the Lord’s authority and at that time of rage does not fear God.

God commands we repay our enemies’ evil with good, “If your enemy is hungry feed them; if they are thirsty give them something to drink. In doing this, you heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you (Pro 25:21-22). Now understand this, just because you show kindness to your enemies does not mean they will reciprocate it back to you. Your aim is to obey and please God above all else. Hopefully the kindness you have shown them will crush their pride and open the way for you to share the gospel to them so that they can repent of their sins and receive the gift of eternal life.

The unregenerate who are God’s enemies are on their way to hell. The best thing they can do for themselves is to encounter a true believer who is not afraid to share the gospel truth so that despite God’s wrath that abides on them, He at the same time loves them and desires they repent. God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked. God does not rejoice in His enemies’ destruction; we are not to either (Ezekiel 18:32; 33:11). Why? A person who dies in sin is lost forever. They will live in a Christless eternity.

Let’s pray for one another that we love and forgive our enemies just like Christ love and forgave us (Eph 4:32).