Love Your Enemy #3 ... "You did what with my money?"

Enemy #1
Enemy #2
Enemy #2 1/2

Love your enemy is not a suggestion.  It is something God tells us to do over and over throughout the New Testament.

It is not a cute thing to do ... it is to be a way of life.

Matt. 5:38-45  You have heard that it was said, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth But I say to you, do not resist him who is evil; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone wants to sue you, and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two.

Taking from us causes resentment.
Giving creates joy in our heart.

Haven't you ever had a spoiled little kid hint for something; or pull on you wanting to be picked up; or try to sneak something?  The problem is the parent is standing there with adoring eyes all you can do is look down and say "isn't he the cutest little thing." :):)
(Please don't tell me you never met a child you didn't like. I have.)
That child is trying to take something from you that you didn't offer, attention and love, & (at least for those of us who aren't saints) is very irritating.
I had a friend like that
that had a child like that.
I got so as soon as the child headed for me, I would swoop him up and twirl him around and say something like, "Hey, let's go to the kitchen, I've got something for you."

It becomes a whole different story. If I could give to him before he began manipulating me to take from me I could actually enjoy it.

That's what the verse above is about.
 The soldiers had the right to make anyone carry their load 1 mile.  You could be burning with resentment by the end. But imagine carrying the load, &, if it wasn't too heavy, offering to take more. All of a sudden, you're in control; you're giving. The soldier is probably stunned.  At the end of the mile, you say "You know, I think I can make it another mile. Why don't you let me give it a try."
The whole dynamic changes. First of all, God DOES put joy in your heart. You are now giving instead of being forced.  Also, if you are a Christian, this may open the door to a conversation about the Lord.
Giving takes away the anger of the taking.

I was a case worker for Welfare. One day I told them to send a man in that was waiting.  One room with 6 desks & dividers on 1 or 2 sides. The door opened and a man stepped in. Very impressive; and scary.  He had sharp features. Shoulder length black hair. Long black coat. I called him to my desk.
He had just gotten out of prison. He had found a home of about 6 men to board with after a time of being in a substance abuse release center.
No food. No other clothes. No family here. No job yet.
(Who would be anxious to hire him?)
I could only give him about 15$ for the last few days of the month
and it would be about 30 days before the first regular issuance.

He dropped his head. Didn't really complain.
I just knew he was terribly defeated. I felt sick seeing
the spot these guys are in.  Not even money for rent while they look for a job.

I took his address home with me and shared with the two children
still living there.  We were also broke. But we had  prayed that God would meet our need and if He gave extra we would buy groceries for Ron G.
The very next day we did receive money plus about 35$ extra.
We decided we should buy groceries and not give the money.

Shopping done, I began to be afraid to deliver them. It was toward evening when I went with heavy snow on the ground back into inner city.
I knocked.
He wasn't home. Whew!  Relief.
The next morning, they still had to be delivered.  Mid morning I drove over again and knocked at the door. Someone answered.
Ron came to the door. I told him I had been thinking about the bad spot he was in and the children and I had bought him some groceries.

He was embarrassed but thanked me & made two trips with sacks. I was leaving to get in the car (I didn't go in) and I heard him come out behind me
saying 'Ok, ok were did I want him to go?' 
No, no, I don't want you to go anywhere. I just wanted to drop off the groceries.
"No, that's ok. I don't mind. That was nice of you."
All of a sudden we were both in the car.
I didn't know what to do.
What should I do? Just drive around in the snow.

I told him I really didn't have anywhere to take him.
I was just going home to my kids.
He said, "OK, that's fine."
I felt so stupid, I started driving.
Shortly he was sitting at my dining room table drinking coffee and talking to my children and myself. I couldn't believe he was actually sitting in my house.

Nevertheless, that's how we got to know Ron G.
He was almost 20 yrs younger than me and was very respectful.
Never took a dime from us. But we did talk a lot. Of course
I tried to talk about the Lord a little but at that time he wasn't interested so I backed off.  I'm not sure he'd really had serious discussions with people before.
One evening the children were gone skating. Ron began to pace
back and forth; back and forth. When I asked him what was wrong he just shook his head. Finally he looked up at the ceiling and said he was just so mad it was eating him up. The problem was he only had one person in his family that he loved
and it was that sister.  He hated hating her.

Because he was Indian, over 900$  had come to him in an Indian grant while he was in prison. He sent it to his sister to keep because she was the only one he trusted.
She had told him he could be paroled to her.
When the time for his parole came up, she failed to respond to the prison or to him. He had to stay in prison 6 months longer.  When he got out, the money was gone.

His bitterness was more than he could bear. I felt overwhelmed at the thought of teaching him, of all people, the joy of loving your enemy. He sat with hanging head. Really in distress.
I asked if he really wanted to get rid of those feelings. "YES"
Lord, does this work for non Christians?

Ron, I know you find this hard to believe, but if you would just write a letter to your sister giving her the money, your anger would be gone.
"NO."  He stood up and looked stunned. Mad. I was a teeny tiny bit uncomfortable.
Somehow ... the talk continued for quite a while.
My turn to be stunned when he said, "OK, get a paper and pencil. I don't write."
Pacing back and forth he began to tell me these angry things to write. I said I can't do this. You'll have to call her & say that yourself. You're supposed to be nice here.
"OK, ok.  Just tell her it's OK about the money. I know you wouldn't have taken it if you didn't need it. You can just have the money.
I miss you. I'm glad you're my sister.
I love you, Ron G."

I am not exaggerating. By the time he signed it, put it in an envelope and asked if I would take him up to mail it right then he could not quit grinning.
We mailed the letter & on the way to pick up the children he said he couldn't believe how happy he was. In fact he wanted to go to his home town as soon as they'd let him to see her.

I drove him from KC KS to Manhattan Kansas within, maybe, 6 weeks.
He called off and on for a year or so. I would also talk to his girl friend who reported he went back to drinking.  But one of the last times I talked to him, he said his sister's husband had died and she received insurance money. She had given him 1000$.

Examples take a long time to read. I'll only post one or two at a time. If it is too much for you don't feel you have to read them. I'll post a few more and we'll see if there is anyone benefiting.
Please share with us if you decide to love an enemy. Or, if you need help coming up with a plan.

Just a re quote.

Matt. 5:38-45  You have heard that it was said, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth But I say to you, do not resist him who is evil; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone wants to sue you, and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two.

Loving your enemy always turns things around.

I found a GREAT picture of Jonah. He had a foregiveness problem. A tiny, tiny article will be posted in a couple of days     Enemy #3 1/2

Now Posted         Enemy 3 1/2 :)

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