A Proper Interpretation

“If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.” (Proverbs 25:21-22)

Let’s start with what the proverb is not saying: if you do something nice for your enemy, he will become enraged, inflamed if you will, and thus it will serve as a God-approved retaliation.

Do we seriously think God would reward us for that?

Of course not.

Isn’t our ‘Christian kindness’ designed to draw people towards Christ?

Of course it is.

The ‘head’ being spoken of in the Proverb is a term which refers to the barely glowing, seemingly dormant embers of a fire, as in a furnace or an old locomotive, that are intended to go low, but never go out, the rationale being that a blaze can be easily stoked by just adding fuel, without having to start a fire from scratch. 

 

The ‘enemy’ in the proverb is a broad term. It simply could mean those who have done you wrong, but it could also typify the unsaved or back slidden person whose head has gone cold. The niceties of the Christian who blesses this person are likened to hot coals that will serve to restore the flame that has expired or perhaps was never there to begin with. 

This is the type of behavior the Lord rewards.

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Your Fruitless Friends

“(Jesus) spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down…And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.” (Luke 13:6-9)

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Our first reaction to fruitlessness in a Christian is to cut him or her down, but have you ever stopped to consider that this brother or sister in the faith just might be your responsibility?

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Three Things to Consider

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1) Do you know this person?

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It’s amazing how quick we can be to notice a lack of productivity or spiritual growth in a person we just met. I have done it to others and I have had it done to me and it’s shameful, arrogant behavior. Having said that, is this a friend, a close acquaintance, or a family member? If so, the Bible reminds us, “[I]f a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1)

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2) Have you dug around them?

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What have you been doing this past year? You prayed for them? Have you attempted to dig into deeper conversations? Have you removed stones and thorns, loosened the soil, and exposed their roots so they could better receive nutrients?

For whatever the reason, many Christians reject this type of work. Don’t you be one of them. Remember: it’s not about how you feel and it’s not about growing fruit – it’s about honoring and pleasing God with our submission and obedience. If there be blessings or fruit as a result, they are byproducts of spiritual compliance.

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3) What are you spreading?

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Cultivating the soil is not enough. Just as plants need nutrients to grow, so do Christians. The best thing for plants is manure, but not so with people. Keep your manure to yourself and spread liberally prayer, the Word of God, encouragement, and correction when needed. While I don’t believe you can pray too much, be aware of applying too much Bible, especially in the beginning.  If you’re in prayer you’ll know how much fertilizer to use and when to use it.

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After One Year

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If you don’t see fruit, should you cut the person down?

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The short answer is no. This person, as with the fig tree in the parable, does not belong to you. In due time the Lord will deal with them. But having said that, if you’ve been in prayer and in His Word, the Lord likely show you something about this individual that will guide you in how you should proceed. The truth of the matter is that if this person has allowed you to pour into to them for a year, they are probably maturing in their faith and the fruit will be evident.

So the next time you notice a Christian without fruit, don’t be so quick to assign blame without first asking yourself, “Have I done my part?”

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“But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” (James 1:25)

 

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