Thursday, December 1, 2011

Heap Coals On Their Head!


If someone is angry with you {including your spouse} or if someone is doing anything wrong to you, the Bible says to heap burning coals upon their head.  That sounds great!  That will get them back for hurting us!

Wait...It doesn't mean what I think it means ~

It means to allow them to be angry with me. 

It means to let them mistreat me. 

It means to respond in kindness. 

It means giving them to God and allowing Him to work in their life.

I have experienced this recently.  Someone was really angry with me.  It was clearly unjustified anger.  My sister was sitting next to me when it happened.  I, through God's Spirit working powerfully through me, was able to just sit there, smile, and nod.  My sister's face showed shock and disbelief. 

It was wonderful!  To be able to respond in gentleness and kindness instead of defending myself felt so much better.  I am still far from perfect in this area, but I am slowly getting it.  God's ways work.  How come we keep forgetting that?

So the next time your husband, co-worker, boss, etc. is angry with you, be kind back.  Don't fight back.  Let God do that for you.  He does a much better job.  Heap burning coals upon their head!  You win people with kindness!!!  Why is it so hard for us to get that?

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath:  for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.  Therefore if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink:  for in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head.  Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good
Romans 12:19-21

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger
Proverbs 15:1

Alphabe-Thursday

Comments (15)

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Oh, I love Proverbs 15:1. It's so true. But you're right, it takes us a long time to get that branded on our hearts. It's tough. I can do it easily with my hubby because I know his motives and love toward me are pure. But I still work on this daily with others. Alot better than I used to be but still a ways from where God would have me to be. Thanks for the post!
Thank you, I so needed to hear that. So much!
So true!
I love to see people respond to anger with kindness. I'm so glad we have the Biblical command to do that. Thanks for sharing this.
Wonderful advice. The Bible has all the answers. We just need to look for them. Thank you for sharing this one.
Blessings,
Charlotte
gosh Lori...it's so hard to let someone just be angry with me. Something in me wants to fight back. But when I can show kindness....it just takes away their anger. Great advice you gave.
It is only by having the Holy Spirit with us that we can "heap coals." I daily want "the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable" to God.
I guess that means no more running over the top of limos with my pickup when they get in my way...

I'll try!
haha, maybe it means to go back to using a coal stove so you'll have some when needed:)
JDaniel4's Mom's avatar

JDaniel4's Mom · 689 weeks ago

What wonderful advice! It really does help defuse situations!
great post...although slightly different perspective, it reminds me of this quote I saw the other day: Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one getting burned.
I'm so going to try that. I have a friend who just looks at anyone who is angry, saying nothing until they are finished. It is such a diffuser!
Very nice....it's so true...a little bit of sugar moves mountains!
When people say things to me that they shouldn't be saying, I give them "the smile." "The smile" leaves them knowing in no uncertain terms that what they have done is wrong, and they should never do it again. That smile tells them that by saying something wrong to me, they are giving me way too much power over them. It is telling them that they had better think twice, or their words will come back to haunt them.
I like the idea of 'coal heaping'. Once in a while. I usually do something pretty much like Judie said in her comment.

I will confront someone if they push me too hard, but other than that it's really hard to change someone elses attitude and behavior.

This was really a thoughtful and though provoking post.

Thanks for linking it.

A+

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