HEAPING COALS

When dealing with someone who has hurt you, the Word of God urges us to respond with kindness ...

Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; 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 12:19-21

Abstaining from an act of vengeance is challenging in itself, but merely holding back a counterattack is not enough according to Paul. He calls upon us to return good for evil. Though counterintuitive, this radical directive is a natural response for those who have placed their lives under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Displaying altruism can make an enemy recall his transgression with feelings of remorse ...

Denney - The meaning of ‘heaping burning coals on his head’ is hardly open to doubt. It must refer to the burning pain of shame that the man feels whose hostility is repaid by love. This is the only kind of vengeance the Christian is at liberty to contemplate.

It may lead him to repent ... 

During a time of terrible atrocities in Armenia, a Turkish soldier pursued a young woman and her brother down a street. He cornered them and then mercilessly shot the brother and let the sister go free, but only after she saw her brother’s brutal murder. 

Later, the woman was working as a nurse in a military hospital when the Turkish soldier who had shot her brother was brought into her ward. He was critically wounded and if she had left him alone, he would have died. At first, she wrestled with the desire for vengeance. But she realized that the Lord wanted her to treat this man with kindness, so she gently nursed him back to health. 

One day the Turk, who recognized her, said, “Why didn’t you let me die?” She replied, “I am a follower of Jesus and He said, ‘Love your enemies.’” The man was silent for a long time, but finally said, “I never knew that anyone could have such faith. If that’s what it does, tell me more about it. I want it.” - Steven Cole 

God can use acts of kindness to soften the heart of an enemy and bring him to salvation. This is what happens when evil is overcome by good. 

It has eternal consequences.