My dear readers,

Winning Over Our Enemies

Proverbs 16:7: “When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

“For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me” (Phil 1:29-30). These verses reveal to all children of God that suffering for Christ cannot be avoided if they live in holiness. This same evil world that persecuted and crucified Christ will persecute and crucify all Christ’s disciples who live for Him faithfully in holiness. This truth prepares every believer so that he will not sin against God. When persecution comes, he needs to know how to react in a manner pleasing to God. This truth is taught in both the Old and New Testaments.

What is the biblical way to respond to our enemies? It is important to distinguish between our enemies and the Lord’s enemies.

Our enemies are the ones who attack us because of our faith and witness for Christ. If our enemies are those who are envious of us because of our promotion at work or if they are our enemies at war where they do not know that we are Christians, then Proverbs 16:7 does not apply.

The Lord’s enemies are the ones who attack the Bible or the Name of Jesus Christ. The biblical response to the Lord’s enemies is to hate them with perfect hatred. Psalm 139:20-22: “For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain. Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.” It is a hatred that is pure and for the glory of God. By the attacks of these enemies of God, sinners are prevented from knowing Christ, and children of God are stumbled in their faith. To befriend them or wish them well would make us partakers of their evil deeds and sin.

Proverbs 16:7 clearly refers to the believer’s enemies, and not the Lord’s.

Pleasing the LORD? – Our lives must be pleasing to the LORD. That is the meaning of the word “ways” that describes well-trodden paths. Well-trodden paths were common in Old Testament times as walking was a common way of travelling, especially for the poorer Jews. The only way a life is pleasing to the LORD is a life lived according to God’s holy Word. He lives his life aright with the following:

• God – He has a personal relationship with Him that is in Christ. He prays without ceasing. He rejoices evermore as his life is filled with eternal hope even as he is surrounded by earthly trials and adversities. He lives by faith trusting in His heavenly Father to provide what is best for him as he focuses on his spiritual well-being and service unto his Lord Jesus Christ.

• Family – He learns to love his family by caring for their spiritual life. In the past, he placed first care on their studies, food and clothing, holidays and the comforts of home. Spiritual darkness enveloped the home. Quarrels and carnality consumed the family. Now that he is in Christ, peace, prayer and the Word of God rule. There is joy unspeakable when everyone in the family is a child of God. Nothing can separate them from the love of God as all of them are in Christ Jesus.

• Friends – He tells all his friends that he is now a Christian. He shares with them his new found experiences in Christ. New friends will be made whereby they are also his brothers and sisters in Christ. He has fellowship with them in a way that is endearing and sincere which he has not experienced before. There is trust and transparency. He knows that his Christian friends are also part of his eternal family whom he will be with forever. He learns to forgive when he is hurt just as Christ has forgiven him. He asks others for forgiveness when he hurts them. He protects this eternal relationship that is sealed by the blood of Christ at all costs.

• Material possessions – He has stopped measuring himself by the things he possesses. They were everything to him before salvation, but now that he is in Christ, they have become the least important things in his life. He uses things and no longer allows things to own or use him. Integrity and honesty characterize his life now. He no longer “massages” the truth or circumvents morality or ethics for that extra dollar. He seeks God’s kingdom first and trusts God to take care of all his earthly needs as God has promised him that He will in Matthew 6:33.

• Enemies – He turns the other cheek when slapped by his enemies. He prays for them when they despitefully use him or slander him. He goes the second mile when they ask him to go one mile. His primary concern is that his enemies see Christ in him so that they can come to believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ just as he has. He knows that this is what Christ wants him to do. For Christ’s sake he will suffer and even die. Saving their souls is paramount to him in his relationship with his enemies.

Enemies at Peace? – In the above manner, God assures His children that even their enemies will be at peace with him. We know that the enemies of God will despise and hurt us. But the assurance in this verse is that our enemies will be at peace with us. They will be at peace with us before God in that it will be based upon holiness and God's justice and truth. There is no real charge that can be levelled against us. Also, our enemies will see the good works done to them even as they continue to do evil. It is like pouring hot coals on their heads. Romans 12:20: “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.”

In other words, they will be convicted by their conscience and realize their sins and make peace with us. They might even become Christians in the process which is our greatest desire for them. This does not happen all the time as many believers have been martyred for their faith. The peace here is understood from God's perspective. It is a peace whereby broken relationships are healed. They become true friends even as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Food for Thought – The LORD knows lovingly whether all our ways are pleasing to Him.