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Why We Must Do Good to Our Enemies?

 

 

Many Reasons in the Bible

 

If we ask a Christian why we should do good to our enemies, I think many can come up with quotes from the Bible, like because God is merciful and kind, Jesus teaches us to overcome evil with good, and we must do to others what we want them to do to us, etc. However, there is also a practical reason why doing good to our enemies will actually bring beneficial results to ourselves.

 

 

A Practical Reason

 

The “principle of sowing and reaping” operates in almost everything in our world. It is at work when we plant our crops, and it is also at work with our words and deeds. This is why “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1); and we must do to others what we want them to do to us (Matthew 7:12).

 

In the same way, this principle applies to evil doers. Jehovah God explained this clearly when He spoke to Abraham:

 

Then He said to him (Abraham), “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it … Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years … But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” ~ Genesis 15:7-16

 

In the above conversation, the Lord clearly told Abraham that judgement can only come when the iniquity of the Amorites has accumulated to a certain point. When this time comes (“their iniquity is complete”), Abraham’s descendants can easily defeat them and take back their land. In fact, the Amorites was the first tribe the Israelites defeated when they entered their Promised Land.

 

 

Destroy Evil Deeds or Hasten Judgement on the Evildoer

 

According to this principle, doing good to our enemies can only bring two results. One, our enemy will repent and therefore cease his evil deeds. Second, he will continue to take more advantage of us and therefore hasten his own judgement. This is also stated in the Book of Proverbs:

 

If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you. ~ Proverbs 25:21-22

 

What is the use of coal? Coal is a fuel for burning. When enough coal has been heaped, the object will burn immediately when a fire is lit. In the same way, if we continue to let our enemies take advantage of us (for as long as we can bear), it will only hasten the completion of their iniquities. When judgement comes, they will immediately be destroyed. But on the other hand, the Lord will reward us because we continue to do good works even to our enemies. 

 

 

Wait and Trust in the Righteousness of God

 

The Lord says,”Vengeance is mine”. God is just, and He will certainly judge the evildoers righteously. It is NOT OUR JOB to take revenge!

 

(The Lord says) “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.” ~ Deuteronomy 32:35

 

 

Be careful Not to Repay Evil by Ourselves!

 

Therefore we should always wait for the Lord’s judgement. In fact, we must be extremely careful NOT to take revenge by ourselves, lest the judgement might fall upon us instead,

 

Do not say, “I will repay evil”. Wait for the Lord, and He will save you. ~ Proverbs 2-:22

 

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; Or the Lord will see it and be displeased, and turn His anger away from him. Do not fret because of evildoers, or be envious of the wicked; for there will be no future for the evil man; the lamp of the wicked will be put out. ~ Proverbs 24:17-20

 

Repay no one evil for evil … Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath (of God); for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. ~ Romans 12:17-21

 

 

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