Who did you say to help?
Comments (0) On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.”
Romans 12:20 (NIV)
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There are some things about Christianity that seem to run contrary to modern thinking. In our verse for today, Paul states one of these contradictions. What Paul says is to be good to those who would do you harm. When your enemy is in need of food or drink and you can help meet that need, then do so.
Most people believe that to help your enemy will increase your suffering. If you gave your enemy food when he/she is starving, they would be strengthened by the food and be better able to harm you. In war time the opposing nations give their food supplies only to their own troops. Certainly the generals commanding the armies would never dream of supplying food and water to those they wish to conquer.
When our Lord was being crucified He prayed several times to the Father to forgive the men who were causing His death. This is a clear illustration of a person doing good to those who were harming Him. The greatest need the executioners had was for forgiveness for the crime of murder.
Jesus’ prayer was answered because we witness the repentance of the people around the cross following His death (Luke 23:48). Later in Acts 6:7 we read that many of the priests in Jerusalem became obedient to the faith.
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