Feed Your Enemies

The Story of Demon Man

I work for a grocery store and as a member of the leadership team, I am responsible for not only the building and business, but the safety and security of each crew member that works there.

There is much work to be done before opening the doors for business each day and it requires us to begin early and work late to get it all done.

Early one morning, a homeless man stood in our parking lot with a large stick.  He began violently striking the metal cart corral in our parking lot.  Between blows, he would swear at the top of his lungs so that we could hear him inside the store.

His behavior was so bad, it reminded me of the demon possessed man that Jesus healed who had the legion because there were many of them.

The Force of His Blows

The man scared the crew entering the store who were coming to work.  Being the only leader on duty at the time, it was my responsibility to speak with this man and ask him to leave our parking lot.

I approached him with two other male crew members and politely told him we needed him to leave our parking lot.  He argued and continued swearing, but in the end, he left the parking lot.  Unfortunately, he simply walked to the sidewalk on the street which was even closer to where our crew parked.

The stick the man had been battering the cart corral with was broken by the force of his blows and finally dropped, so when he moved to the sidewalk, I was able to take it and throw it away.  But I was not able to peacefully cause him to leave our area.

The Ways of Peace

I tried to keep working, but knowing he was there gave me great concern for the crew coming in for their shifts and I felt I should do something.

Calling the police was always on the table, but in my experience, troublemakers were almost always gone by the time police arrived.  I needed a more immediate solution.

On the sidewalk, he continued acting out, swearing, and acting violent.

I am a peaceful man and feel that the ways of peace can resolve every situation I might possibly deal with, but today, I faced a serious situation that needed a solution immediately and I didn’t have one.

Overcome Evil with Good

For a time, in my heart, I was tempted with thoughts of being aggressive with this individual.  I would never do it because fighting only perpetuates fighting, but I was frustrated and deeply concerned for my crew.

I couldn’t understand how to deal with this wild and angry man.  Nor did I understand what he needed.  It was clear he had been up all night abusing some substance but surmising that knowledge gave me no recourse to clear him as a threat.

It was then that a crew member came to me and made a simple observation.

The crew member said that perhaps he was hungry.  As a Christian, I know the scripture that says, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink.  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:20-21

A Wild Look

I was ashamed my thoughts went to the idea of aggressive behavior on my part and that I did not think of this solution first.  It was clear the suggestion by the crew member needed to be tried.

We grabbed a sandwich and a drink from the store.  Since no one knew what demon man would do when approached, I took the sandwich and drink to him.  If anyone was going to be hurt, it would have to be me.  There were crew near me just in case.

I came near the man and saw a wild look in his eyes and was concerned about his violent behavior, but I held out the sandwich and drink and said we thought maybe he was hungry and offered him both.

God Knows

There was a transformation that came over the man I did not expect.  His ferocity disappeared completely and he became a normal and tired man.  Gently he took what I offered him and said “Thank you,” then walked away.

I couldn’t believe it.  My problem was solved but more than that, I saw the words of God in action.  And because we handled our problem with God’s solution, I saw beyond the physical behavior of a lost and sinning man.  I saw a soul that needed God as much as the rest of us.

I never had the opportunity to share Jesus Christ with this man, but I have been able to pray for him.  I believe that God knows right where he is and will send others to help guide him into the right path.

His Guest List

There is a road before all of us that leads to Jesus Christ and heaven.  It is a road whose destination leads to peace and true life, but it is a road that people resist.

I don’t understand why so many people reject the life that Jesus Christ has for all of us.  It is a mystery even though He only has good intentions towards us.

If you have never sought Jesus Christ, then my encouragement to you is to give Jesus Christ and His words a chance.  He wants you with Him when this life is over so much, that He died to get you there.  But you have to believe in Him and what He did.

You see, God and His Son, are gentlemen.  He will never force you to choose Him and His words.  But, like any other guest list, if you are not on His guest list, then the door to His home in heaven will not be open when you get there.

God is Living and Powerful

If once upon a time you believed in Jesus but were hurt by others in the church, then my encouragement would be to return to Jesus Christ and seek Him.  It may be, the ones who hurt you were only wolves in sheep’s clothing.  Hopefully, the ones who hurt you were just not in their right mind at the time.  Unfortunately, we all do go astray sometimes.

Finally, if you believe in Jesus Christ, I want you to remember that you can trust the words of God.  The Bible will never fail you.  When you read, “The word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12), then perhaps you will remember this story and how the Lord could discern the thoughts and intentions of my heart as I pondered the safety of my crew and a lost soul.