Do you have any enemies? Enemies are people who make your life uncomfortable, difficult. They may cause unnecessary hurt or discord, and they are generally at odds with you in many ways, intentional or unintentional.

The "Love Your Enemy" Principle

Here is a principle from Matthew 5 that gives us direct guidance on dealing with a relationship “enemy.”

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous (Matthew 5:43-45).

What a revolutionary teaching this was. Never before had anyone taught such convoluted doctrine. It goes against all our instincts to love our enemies. It demands an attitude foreign to our nature. It requires self-denial, which seems imminently unfair and all but impossible.

That's the way it often is with biblical principles. They go against our grain, but if you have some relationship “enemies,” God will empower you to love them if you are willing. Remember, loving doesn’t necessarily mean liking. This kind of love is an action, a set of our will, a decision to act in loving ways, even though our feelings may not be warm and fuzzy.

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you (Proverbs 25:21-22).

In these two passages from Matthew and Proverbs we learn three things about how we are to treat our enemies:

We are to love our enemies.

We are to pray for our enemies.

We are to give our enemies what they need.

We aren't promised our enemies will change or appreciate our loving attitude. But when we respond in loving ways toward people who make our lives difficult, we keep ourselves from sinning and we demonstrate the love of Jesus in very real ways.