Too Hot - too hot Baby

I used to ponder the hot coals verses in Proverbs 25:22 and Roman's 12:20 when I was younger.  Why would kindness to your foe damage him?  I was sure God did desire us to be kind...

but that the result would be pain or injury?      ...What?

My current understanding is this; mercy to the evil doer works the same as it did in ourselves when we came to saving grace (& actually continues throughout our sometimes faltering steps).  If we accept it, Christ's selfless love for us convicts us.  Wonderful as that is, it's also very painful to more clearly see our own trespasses & transgressions.  Knowing we're forgiven for wrongs doesn't remove the pain of regret.  

Those heaps of burning coals?  They are meant to save us.  To cause us the pain of recognizing our own sinful actions.  It is most unfortunate when the coals only lead to burning rage as pride takes over & hardens our heart.  I guess there is a simple and sad justice in that outcome as well.  

Be kind... we can not control the actions of others but God gave us the ability to control our own.

There is always Hope * Be filled with Love ~ Wendy

Maybe you are sharing a chuckle with me if you're old enough to remember the hit by Cool & the Gang!  

**Also, I have linked an EXCELLENT and short commentary to the above 'hot coals' scripture for more in depth understanding of kindness in the face of cruelty.

PS - This just in!!  I found another place where this was explained a little differently: for your perusal :)   (ALL LINKS ARE IN GREEN!) Bible scholars have studied what the phrase to "heap burning coals" meant in those days, and there are a couple thoughts, both of which actually end up having similar meanings.

Another thought is that to "heap burning coals on his head" refers to a time when keeping one's hearth fire alive was a life-saving necessity. If someone could not keep their fire going, then they would go around the town, carrying some sort of container on his head, asking for hot coals to rekindle his fire. Putting coals in this container on his head would benefit him, fulfilling his need, and helping him.

Either way we interpret this phrase, Paul is saying to pay kindness to your enemies instead of trying to hurt them. Do not allow their mean or sinful actions to control you; make the decision to choose peace as your response. Do not try to get even or get back at them, rather overwhelm them with kindness, and "do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21). The hope is that perhaps your kindness will "destroy" your adversary's cruelty by making him into an ally.