The Bible makes it clear that in this life, we are going to have those who oppose us, no matter what. How do we deal with these situations from a biblical standpoint? The law of God gives us the answer, kindness. Being kind is a hard to fight. 1 Corinthians 13:4 speaks about charity or love as, "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up." Charity is kind. This, however, does not mean that we do not uphold the law of God in showing no mercy where so prescribed by the word. Law and love are not opposed to each other. One of the fruits of the Spirit is kindness as Galatians 5:22, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith." Gentleness here is synonymous with kindness.
Application
To properly understand the Bible, we need to use what is known as applied theology.
Exodus 23:4-5 reads, "If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. 5If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him." This is a practical way of showing love even to our enemies. If we find our enemies animal going awry, we are to physically get the animal and return it to his master. If the donkey is to weighed down under a load, you are to assist your enemy in helping the animal to be released from the burden. In other words, we are not to look the other way when our enemy needs help. This is a moral law and not a civil law.
God is interested in evangelizing the lost of the world. The world is looking on seeing if there is any truth in religion. Our religion is to be this worldly in taking practical steps in winning the lost to the faith. Jesus said in Matthew 5:43-48, "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Here He gives the practical advice of doing good or being kind to those that hate us. God, Himself is kind, even to His enemies, the wicked, and we are to follow suit. We are to be different because the world loves those that loves it but hates those that are opposed to them. We are not to be like sinners, but demonstrate something the world cannot fight, the love of God.
The book of wisdom, Proverbs, contains this verse in Proverbs 25:21-22, "If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: 22For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee." We are to assist our enemies when they are in physical distress. This kindness will have the effect of melting a hard heart and may be effectual in the salvation of this enemy. It may be that an enemy will become a friend. An example of this was Saul and David and as was specifically recorded in 1 Samuel 24:9-11, "And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? 10Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD’S anointed. 11Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it." David could have easily slain Saul, but showed kindness unto him, as he was the Lord’s anointed. David did good to his enemy.
Paul writing in Romans 12:20-21 said, "Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." He was obviously referring to Proverbs 25:21-22. We are to try to see the heart of sinners melt because of our kindness and goodness toward them. We do not fight evil with evil but rather with good. I believe that Paul got saved because of the kindness of Stephen. We read in Acts 7:57-60, "Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. 59And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep." Stephen interceded prior to his death for his enemies. He even asked God not to hold them accountable for their sin.
Conclusion
The law of God gives us practical wisdom, even when dealing with our enemies. Proverbs 16:7 says, "When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." If we please God, then we will do good to all men and goodness and kindness are hard to fight back. When in tight situation, even sinners desire help. Melt their hard hearts with kindness.
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