Overcoming Through Kindness

Day Sixty-Eight

Overcoming Through Kindness (Read Proverbs 25:16-28)

¹⁶ Do you like honey?
    Don't eat too much, or it will make you sick!

¹⁷ Don't visit your neighbors too often,
    or you will wear out your welcome.

¹⁸ Telling lies about others
    is as harmful as hitting them with an ax,
wounding them with a sword,
    or shooting them with a sharp arrow.

¹⁹ Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble
    is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot.

²⁰ Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart
    is like taking someone's coat in cold weather
    or pouring vinegar in a wound.^[a]

²¹ If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat.
    If they are thirsty, give them water to drink.
²² You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads,
    and the Lord will reward you.

²³ As surely as a north wind brings rain,
    so a gossiping tongue causes anger!

²⁴ It's better to live alone in the corner of an attic
    than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.

²⁵ Good news from far away
    is like cold water to the thirsty.

²⁶ If the godly give in to the wicked,
    it's like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring.

²⁷ It's not good to eat too much honey,
    and it's not good to seek honors for yourself.

²⁸ A person without self-control
    is like a city with broken-down walls.

Footnotes

1. 25:20 As in the Greek version, Hebrew reads pouring vinegar on soda.

Reflection:

 "Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear, and the blind can see." ~ Mark Twain

Proverbs warn against overeating honey (v. 16, 27) to frame this section and caution the disciples against conflict-causing behaviors. The Lord Jesus repeats this principle, and Paul does, too. It is imperative to practice kindness in the world of the Spirit.

In a world where it's easy to respond to hostility with hostility, Proverbs 25:21-22 presents a radical, counter-cultural approach: kindness. The passage advises us to meet the needs of our enemies, offering food when they're hungry and water when they're thirsty. This command might feel counterintuitive, but it's a powerful expression of God's love and grace. You are most likely familiar with the phrase "Kill them with kindness."

"If you have no Honey in your Pot, have some in your Mouth." ~ Benjamin Franklin

Jesus echoed this teaching in the New Testament, instructing His followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:44). By choosing to show kindness, we are reflecting the character of God, who extends grace and mercy even when it's undeserved.

The phrase "heap burning coals of shame on their heads" is often misunderstood. It doesn't mean causing physical harm or exacting revenge. Instead, it implies that our unexpected kindness can lead to repentance. When people experience genuine love and compassion, it can melt their hardened hearts and lead them to reflect on their actions, potentially changing their behavior and attitude.

Moreover, God promises a reward for this kind of action. It's not about earning something material or seeking recognition; it's about aligning our hearts with God's heart. When we practice kindness towards those who mistreat us, even our enemies (enemy love), we grow spiritually and deepen our relationship with God. We become more like Jesus, who, even on the cross, asked for forgiveness for His enemies. Kindness is a core principle in practicing a Jesus-centered way of life.  

I mentored a young man out of prison, and one of his first jobs was "driving pies," slang for delivering pizzas. On the first day of his job, he called complaining about his female manager, who he often called a few choice names. I instructed him to "kill her with kindness," which he practiced. He shared that he was going on a Friday night date a short time later. I said, "With who?" There was silence; I laughed and said, "It's with the manager you could not stand!" He laughed and said, "Yep." If you lead with kindness, everything changes.

"Kind hearts are the gardens, Kind thoughts are the roots, Kind words are the flowers, Kind deeds are the fruits, Take care of your garden And keep out the weeds, Fill it with sunshine, Kind words, and Kind deeds." ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Reflection Questions:

1. How do you typically react when someone wrongs you? What emotions rise up in those moments?
2. Can you recall responding kindly to someone who hurt you led to a positive outcome?
3. How can you apply this teaching daily, especially with those you find difficult to love?

Prayer:

"Lord, help me love others as You have loved me, even when difficult. Please give me the strength to show kindness to my enemies and those who have wronged me. Let my actions reflect Your grace, and may they lead others to You. Amen."

May God bless your hearing, understanding, and application of today's wisdom.