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Beware Bitterness
Beware Bitterness
Simple question, but a frightening answer: What prevents us from peace with one another, inward holiness, seeing God and finding divine grace?
As you can see, whatever the answer, it is endemic to all relationships: With others, self, and God.
The answer is bitterness. This word, found only 4 times, shows each time it is used to be detrimental to spiritual health (Acts 8:23; Romans 3:14: Ephesians 4:31; Hebrews 12:15). Three of the four times “bitterness” is coupled with bad speech, and the other it is said to spring up causing trouble. Plainly, we can’t hide our bitterness even if we think we aren’t guilty of this sin. Our sin will find us out.
Beyond bad speech, bitterness can lead to immorality and godlessness. That such is a result of bitterness might be shocking; but think about how bitterness towards parents and spouses can bring the defiling trouble of acting profanely in fleshly sins. Children act out, seeking freedom from rules and regulations. This leads to finding acceptance in others, sadly often leading to sexual sins, drugs, and alcohol. Spouses seek what they are missing, filling their emptiness in someone else, sometimes in “innocent” flirting, which then is discovered wasn’t innocent at all as it leads to more sexual sins and spousal distrust. Both children and spouses make decisions that change forever their future.
An example of this is Esau. All he could see was the immediate present. His flesh blinded him to the blessings of the future. So he sold his birthright for beans, literally. Later when he tried to receive his blessing he was tricked by his brother. This led to a desire to kill, and choosing women who vexed his parents. This is an example of trouble springing up so that one bad decision leads to more.
We pause here to remind us all that bitterness can be the root of many of sins and disruptions in our spiritual family too.
When Esau realized his foolishness, he cried and begged for everything to be made right again. Most translations say, “he found no place for repentance”. Since “repentance” means, “a change of mind,” I think that better fits the narrative. Isaac couldn’t change that he had given the blessing to Jacob. Some wrongs, even when we sincerely “repent”, can’t be changed or altered. We have to live with the consequences of our actions, caused by and causing more acrimony with others, ourselves, and God.
The root of bitterness can’t always be seen even by those who are bitter. Then it grows and everyone becomes a victim of that deep seated bitterness.
The way out to safety starts with “pursuing peace.” That means, “run after peace”! Are you running after others to be at peace? If you think this is farfetched, too simple, and causing undue fear, read Hebrews 12:14-17.
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