If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, (Proverbs 25:21 ESV)

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?  And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48 ESV)

Today’s verse from Proverbs 25 is contradictory to our nature. Our enemies are those who’ve done us harm in some way. To show charity to such a person is the opposite of what we would naturally do.

Yet, isn’t this exactly what Jesus did for us? While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 ESV)

Jesus tells us, in Matthew 5, to love our enemies and pray for them, so we may act in accordance with our Father in heaven. He says all people will know we are his followers by our love. (John 13:34-35 ESV)

Romans 8:29 states we (Christians) are being conformed to the image of the Son (Jesus Christ), and that Jesus is the exact imprint of the nature of the Father in heaven (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus says the children of God, reflect his character. (Matthew 5:45)

Although the Lord will reward us for giving bread to our hungry enemies (Proverbs 25:23), the true benefit is our transformation. To this I say, your will be done!