It is if you like being warm at night. Consider, for a moment, that this proverb dates back to a time when keeping warm typically involved lighting something on fire. So, figuratively speaking, you toss coals on someone's head, you warm them up. And that is a good thing. You repay your enemy with kindness and God rewards you for your act of charity.
In Romans 12:9-21, Paul makes the point that we should be consistently good and, in keeping with that, not return evil with evil but with good. The idea that this action (re: coals) will cause harm to the person is inconsistent with the rest of what was said.
In any case, whatever Paul preaches, it must be consistent with this:
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."
(Matthew 5:43-48, NKJV)
Oh. Interesting.
I was sorta wondering if it wasn’t like the old proverb:
“Love your enemies. It irritates the hell out of them”
Good reply, monkfan. I have wondered about her interpretation of the coals even though it is glaringly inconsistent with the rest, but then literalist interpretations lead to such dead-end concusions.
Consider, for a moment, that this proverb dates back to a time when keeping warm typically involved lighting something on fire.
Lighting some thing on fire, not someone.
So, figuratively speaking, you toss coals on someone's head, you warm them up. And that is a good thing.
LOL. Wow. I think you've really missed the point of this verse if you think pouring "coals of fire" on someone's head is an act of kindness.
Let's see the context of the verse...
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." -- Romans 12:19-21"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Paul is saying retribution is God's domain and not ours. And because all things work for the good of those who love Him, God's retribution will make even more evident the depths of the sin of our persecutors by comparison.
By repaying our enemies with kindness, we show God we trust Him to deal with law-breakers.
And He most certainly will -- by "heaping holes of fire on their heads."
Frankly, I don't think I've ever heard a verse so misunderstood as your take on this one.
Of course I guess if you insist on thinking God loves everyone, then floods, pestilence, disease and destruction are all divine love tokens, too, and not a result of God's wrath.
Remind me never to tell you I'm feeling a little chilly. 8~)