Tag: bitterness

In life, many things happen to us unexpectedly – Good & Bad. When unexpected good happens, we call it our luck!!! But if unexpected bad happens, we call it UNFAIR!!! Imagine you loose something that you worked hard for, something that you deserve very much – like your position in the baseball team suddenly got offered to a relative of the coach; or the dream job position that you worked hard for was offered to your boss’s friend. We feel that what happened to us is sooo UNFAIR!!! Well… life is not always fair!!! All of us would have experienced multiple unfair treatments in many areas of life. When treated unfairly, we would be very disappointed and angry. It is quite natural to feel this way.

Bitterness / resentment is defined as anger and disappointment at being treated unfairly. The bitterness towards people might lead us to slander them, treat them bad, hate them and so on. But, when those people are people with authority, it might not be possible to react this way, but the bitterness towards them will be deep rooted in our hearts. Is bitterness okay?

Let us look into the treasure book and find what the treasure offers.

OPENING THE TREASURE BOOK

looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

Hebrews 12:15

 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”

Acts 8:23

 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:31-32

Bitterness brings nothing but trouble. It defiles us like all other evil and wickedness. It is impurity and uncleanness before God. Bitterness is considered a poison. Poison when consumed is hazardous to health and can result in death. This is the effect of bitterness on us. It is hazardous to our health. This nature of bitterness is also proven scientifically by various medical studies conducted by reputed universities.

Bitterness should be put away like all other evil ways as it is malice / ill will. Instead of bitterness we should practice kindness and be forgiving as how Jesus forgave us.

Bitterness is poisonous and brings only trouble. It is evil and defiles us. Put away bitterness and be kind, forgiving one another.

Example of Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8:9-25)

During the time of apostles, a man named Simon practiced sorcery in the city of Samaria and astonished the people, claiming he was someone great. The people from the least to the greatest, believed this man to be the great power of God. And they heeded him because of his sorceries. Philip preached Jesus Christ and the things concerning the kingdom of God to these people and they believed. Simon himself also believed and was baptized and he continued with Philip. He was amazed seeing the miracles and signs which were done. Then Peter and John were sent to Samaria and they prayed for the people that they might receive the Holy Spirit. When they laid hands on the people, they received the Holy Spirit. When Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, “Give me also this power, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” Peter rebuked Simon for this blunder. Holy Spirit revealed to Peter that his heart is not right in the sight of God. Also that he was poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity. Peter asked him to repent and pray to God that he may be forgiven. Then Simon repented and prayed.

Simon, even though a child of God who accepted Jesus as his savior, was poisoned by bitterness. His heart was not upright before God but he never knew it. Holy Spirit revealed to him through an apostle that he was poisoned. If poisoned, then immediately look for cure or the chances of survival is dim. The cure for bitterness like all other evil is to repent first and pray to God for forgiveness. We see that as soon as the poisoning was made known to Simon, he took the cure immediately.

If poisoned with bitterness, be quick to find cure or the chances of survival is dim. The only cure for this poison is to repent first and pray to God for forgiveness.

Example of Hannah – 1 Samuel 1

Elkanah was an Ephraimite with two wives – Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not have any. He went with his family every year to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice to the Lord. And whenever he made an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters, but to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah even though the Lord had closed her womb. Peninnah did not leave any chance to provoke Hannah and hurt her because the Lord had closed her womb. Year after year, when they went to the house of the Lord, Peninnah would hurt her severely and make her feel miserable, making her cry and not eat her portion. Then Elkanah her husband would talk to her and comfort her saying, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”

One such time after Peninnah’s usual provoking, Hannah arose and went to pray in front of the tabernacle. She was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. The priest Eli saw her and mistook her to be drunk. But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.” Then Eli told her to go in peace and that God will grant her petition. So Hannah went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

The study

Here we see that out of the two wives of Elkanah, Hannah did not have children. Having children was the greatest strength for Peninnah and she turned her strength to be the greatest opportunity to torture Hannah. Peninnah made Hannah feel very miserable and hurt to a point where Hannah would just cry and not eat. Even though her husband loved her, the provoke of Peninnah took the focus above everything else. Her soul became very bitter. In all that bitterness, she did not fight Peninnah or slander her or complain to her husband and give him trouble. She did not even try to argue or prove her point. Instead she prayed and wept in anguish before God. She poured out her soul to God. She knew only God could get her a solution, so why discuss with others or argue. She trusted God and believed He would deliver her. God filled her heart with hope and she left in peace and happiness. The bitterness was not to be seen in her anymore. Later on we see that God answered her prayers and gave her children, Prophet Samuel being the first among them.

Hannah did not speak on her behalf, but God did, in such manner that Peninnah did not have any ground to provoke Hannah or make her miserable anymore. Not only did Hannah have children like Penninah, but also a husband who loved her more than Peninnah. But we don’t see Hannah using her strengths to provoke Penninah even though she had every opportunity to do so.

We too might have people around us who take every opportunity to hurt us, belittle us and make us feel miserable. This could spring up bitterness in our souls. Praying to God and pouring out our soul to Him is the best way of getting the bitterness out of us. God will make us stand with our heads held high like He did for Hannah. Make sure also to never use your strengths to mock others or make them feel miserable, but be thankful to God for all His mercies.

Getting God’s help by praying and pouring out our soul to Him enables us to heal our hearts and fill it with peace.

Treasures uncovered

Prayer:

Father, we thank you for teaching us that bitterness is poisonous in nature and that we should never hold on to it but should repent and ask for forgiveness.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Psalms 51:10-11

In Jesus name, Amen.

---