If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying [helpless] under his load, you shall refrain from leaving the man to cope with it alone; you shall help him to release the animal. – Exodus 23:4-5, Amplified Bible

Most people have at least one person in their lives that they just don’t care for. For one reason or another, they rub each other the wrong way. Whether that person is at work, at school, or at home, the antagonism inherit in the relationship is, to say the least, stressful.

When we encounter these people, we instantaneously erect an emotional wall between them and ourselves. When they try to breach it, we defend the wall like medieval soldiers defending their castle: casting stones, launching arrows, and pouring scalding oil in the enemies’ direction. We shut them out and we shut ourselves in, doing everything we can to defend our turf.

For the natural person, fighting with the enemy is the righteous thing to do. But for the saved person, aiding the enemy is the righteous thing to do. You are not to aid your enemy in his effort to defeat you. You are to aid your enemy in an effort to show him God.

Sometimes all it takes is an act of kindness to diffuse a feud. Supplying a meal when a family member dies, offering to help with simple chores, or a kind word and smile at just the right time may begin the process of turning an enemy into a friend. Such things are hard to do because our pride always coaches us to win the battle, not aid the enemy. However, it is not our pride but our Lord we ought listen to, for it is our Lord and not our pride that we will one day answer to.

If you help your enemy, will that automatically mean all is well? No. Your enemy may refuse your help or may simply take advantage of your help with no intent to repay your kindness. Regardless of how your enemy reacts, you can rest assured that God is pleased with your kindess. Remember, there is no better reward than to hear the Lord say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” When you obey the command to aid your enemy, you have been good and faithful.