Thursday 25 September 2025
If your enemies are hungry, give them bread to eat; and if they are thirsty, give them water to drink. (v. 21)
Background
Long-distance running was never my cup of tea, but my partner’s enthusiasm and his passion for its benefits lured me into trying it last year. The journey 'from couch to 5k' was hard work. Sometimes, I found myself running my heart out early in the morning; other times, I was tempted to stay in bed. But once my body adjusted and I embraced the training, I found a genuine love for running.
There is always more to discover in cultivating well-being for body, mind, strength and soul.
Likewise, when a person embraces wisdom by revering the Lord God Almighty, true wisdom reveals itself and brings about the well-being of humanity, enabling us to love one another through our words and actions. Whether friend or foe, we are united in the everlasting love of God.
In fact, today’s passage from Proverbs challenge us to examine our relationships with neighbours, friends and even enemies, through both our speech and behaviour, and the things we say intentionally or without thinking.
Who or what do you really love? Loving God with all our heart opens us to the true virtues that God desires, and empowers us to live out this love radically towards all – reflecting God’s own boundless grace.
Divine wisdom calls us to the ultimate vocation: to love one another, including our enemies. Jesus taught this radical love in his ‘Sermon on the Mount,’ and the apostle Paul echoed him when writing to Christians in Romans 12:20, which he paraphrased from Proverbs 25:21-22, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this, you will heap burning coals on their heads.” (NRSV)
To Ponder:
- You may ask yourself: do I love only those closest to myself? Am I mindful of my words towards others? Do I have the patience to listen before speaking?
Prayer
O God of wisdom, draw me closer to your love, so that I may heed Jesus’ commandment and his grace to love one another through your divine wisdom, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Bible notes author: The Revd Kan Yu
The Revd Kan Yu is a presbyter in south-west London and works with Hong Kong migrants living in London.