Heaping Coals Fire

This morning, I sat and stoked the coals a little more that my husband had left in our fireplace to burn down.  He had placed some of the larger pieces on top of the grate.  As I sat staring at them, this phrase of Scripture came to me....

"Heap coals of fire upon their head"

I've heard that phrase many times since a child.  Many have used it in reference to doing good to someone who has done them wrong in order, but not out of a pure heart.  The intent was in hopes that God would deal with that person to get even with them.  

Prov 25:21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

Prov 25:22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.

I was not thinking of heaping coals of fire on anyone's head. I was just enjoying the warmth of the glowing embers when that phrase came to me. And directly after, came this thought...

You do not heap the coals in order to harm them but rather to help them.  Heaping coals of kindness can help to warm a person's heart, perhaps ignite a spark within them as you share the love of Jesus.  

Notice verse 25 says "and the Lord shall reward thee." 

Would the Lord reward us for helping someone with the intent to harm them?

No, Jesus taught so many verses contrary to that.  

"LOVE your enemies, BLESS them that curse you, DO GOOD to them that hate you, and PRAY FOR THEM which despite fully use you." Mt 5:44

The Lord will reward our kindness toward someone because that kindness could be what melts the hardness of their heart.  But even if it doesn't,  our conscious and actions will be pure before God.

So, our challenge this year...and it will be a challenge...is to heap coals of fire on the heads of those who do us wrong.  We never know whose heart it will touch.