Bitterness – One of the Greatest Enemies in Our Lives

 

“Take heed lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this, many become defiled” (Hebrews 12:15).

Bitterness among fellow believers is like cancer: It poisons one's own soul and causes great damage to God's people. As a rule, bitterness leaves deep wounds or at least ugly scars.

The problem is both ancient and highly topical. It is a danger that we all want to be warned about.

Every root of bitterness begins at some point. At first, it remains invisible. It grows in secret before you can see anything on the surface. That is the dangerous thing: that bitterness initially goes unnoticed. A seed of bitterness falls into the heart. If it is not eradicated immediately, a root begins to grow.

Bitterness harms the person in whose heart this root begins to grow. He becomes unhappy and no longer enjoys fellowship with his Lord.

Bitterness destroys marriages and families. We are warned against this evil, especially in the relationship between husband and wife: “Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them” (Colossians 3:19). Many a marriage has been damaged because we husbands have negligently disregarded this warning and become bitter.

Bitterness damages our life together as brothers and sisters. Many a rift between brothers and sisters could have been avoided if we had been careful not to allow bitterness to arise. Let us not underestimate the consequences of bitterness! Our text explicitly says: “Many become defiled by it.” Roots of bitterness that are not uprooted prove a lack of graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More and, therefore, defile.

 

Causes

Bitterness is often caused by our environment. These can be life circumstances but also people we encounter. The Bible gives some examples:

Job became bitter because he was struck with heavy blows from God. He said, “I loathe my life; I will give free rein to my complaint, I will speak in the bitterness of my soul” (Job 10:1). Later, he indirectly blamed God for this (Job 27:2).

We see something similar with Naomi. When she returned from Moab, she complained: “The Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me” (Ruth 1:20).

Hannah, the wife of Elkanah, was bitter because she would have liked to have had a son but remained childless. She was also offended by her husband's second wife, who had children. “She was in bitterness of soul.” Nevertheless, Hannah did the right thing: “She prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish” (1 Samuel 1:10).

The Israelites in Egypt suffered so much at the hands of their enemies that they became bitter. “And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage” (Exodus 1:14). There are Christians who suffer so much at the hands of unbelievers—e.g., in their jobs—or under adverse circumstances that they become bitter.

The root of bitterness has an ideal breeding ground when situations arise in our lives that we cannot cope with. We either quarrel with God because we cannot understand His ways (illness, pressure at work, stress, loneliness, etc.), or we quarrel with our brothers and sisters (differences of opinion, not being understood, arguments, etc.).

 

Origin

Bitterness begins with resentment, anger, or even wrath. The Preacher says: “Remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your fleshThe term "flesh" is used in different meanings in the Bible: a) as an expression of physicality or humanity, which is inextricably linked to our life on earth. Examples: “the... More” (Ecclesiastes 11:10). If we don't do this, resentment, anger, and bitterness take root. The root of bitterness has taken hold. Those who allow such things to take root in their lives not only become unhappy but also bitter. This usually happens in secret at first. You are hurt and offended. You withdraw from others, and the root of bitterness is already in your heart.

Envy often plays a decisive role, especially in fraternal relationships. We find something in others that we don't have. We become envious and can no longer treat our brother with brotherly love and openness. Even though King Saul was not a believer, his story makes it clear to us where envy and resentment can lead. He could not cope with the fact that God wanted to give David the kingship. He could not handle that the hearts of the people were devoted to David while he himself came away empty-handed. His end is written as a warning to us all. James says: “But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth” (James 3:14).

 

Roots sprout

You can't see them at first. But they grow, and at some point, what was in your heart comes to light. Bitterness becomes visible and tangible. It builds walls and divides. A misunderstanding becomes a lack of understanding. Anger becomes rage. Disappointment becomes frustration. And the result? You see brothers and sisters who are unhappy, who isolate themselves. They avoid each other. You see those who don't treat each other well and others who argue and even split up. The seed has been sown. The problem of the individual has become a problem for everyone and has alienated all those involved. What started in the heart of a single brother or sister burdens the community. This can be the case in a marriage, but it can also become a real test in a local assemblyThe literal meaning is “called out”: • called out of "the darkness" (1. Pet 2:9)—this refers to the area where there is a lack of light about God Himself, His... More and beyond.

 

Lack of GraceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More

We are asked to make sure that no one lacks the graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More of God. This means all of us. The problem is not the problem of one individual but of all. If someone is lacking in graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More, it is never because of God. His graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More is always abundant. His undeserved favor is new every day. It can never be in short supply. It is overflowing (1 Timothy 1:14). It is up to us to live from and in this graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More. “And God is able to make all graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

God's graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More has not only appeared to bring us salvationSalvation is part of God's plan of saving people. Those who are in danger and cannot help themselves need salvation. We owe our salvation to our Savior, who went to... More but also instructs us in our daily lives (Titus 2:11, 12). It overcomes every frustration, every anger, every hurt, every bitterness if only we had a greater sense of God's graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More in our lives, but also in the lives of our brothers and sisters! GraceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More is opposed to any thought of retribution, revenge, or payback. Those who live in the graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More of God see their brothers and sisters with different eyes. They know that God only means well to us.

To suffer a lack of graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More shows that we no longer live in happy fellowship with the Lord. Our practical relationship with Him is somehow disturbed.

Paul urges us: “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 ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More forgave you” (Ephesians 4:31, 32). Huge contrasts open up here. Instead of bitterness, anger, rage, shouting, and slander, we show compassion, mercy, and a willingness to forgive. These are virtues that characterize those who live in the awareness of God's undeserved kindness. They only come forth through the work of God's Spirit in us.

If we allow bitterness to take hold in our lives, we ultimately give room to the devil and hinder the work of God's Spirit. Only through His work can bitterness be overcome and a new sense of graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More be given to us.

 

The Remedy

First of all, God doesn't want us to let bitterness arise in the first place. But how can we prevent anything from taking root in our hearts? Paul urges us to take every thought captive to the obedience of ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More (2 Corinthians 10:5). If there are circumstances in our lives that could make us bitter, then we can talk to our Lord about them. If bitter thoughts against a brother or sister arise in our hearts, then we may go to the Lord with them. In addition, we must be unconditionally willing to forgive our brothers and sisters, even if we are supposedly in the right. Let us ask our Lord to give us the graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More to see circumstances and people through His eyes.

But then there is the treatment of the bitterness that has arisen: to prevent further rooting, it is not enough to cut away what is visible on the surface. It is not enough to prevent bitterness from becoming visible on the outside. We may succeed in doing this for a while. We meet each other with flaunted kindness, but bitterness, envy, and bad thoughts become more and more entrenched in our hearts. In this case, root canal treatment means radically uprooting them. Nothing else will help. Just as weeds in the garden cannot be controlled by cutting them off at the surface, the root of bitterness must be uprooted stump by stump. This also applies if the matter has long since taken root in our hearts. If we have perhaps been carrying bitter thoughts around with us for years or decades, it is never too late to pull out this root.

There are cases where brothers have not spoken to their brothers (or even spouses to each other) for years. Is there no hope, then? Do we have to take our bitterness with us to the grave? Job thought so for a while, for he said: “Another man dies in the bitterness of his soul, never having eaten with pleasure” (Job 21:25).

No—there is hope even then. No bitterness can be so deep-seated that God cannot remove this root. In the power of the Spirit, we can also pull out long-grown roots through an open and honest confession. At the same time, we can let the Lord show us where we can help those who cannot escape the cycle of bitter thoughts.

The example of Job can give us courage. At the beginning of his trialA trial is a test of the authenticity, value, or durability of something. God uses trials in the lives of believers to test and confirm their faith and perseverance and... More, he said of God: “He will not allow me to catch my breath, but fills me with bitterness” (Job 9:18). If anyone had a human right to be bitter towards his sorrowful comforters, it was Job. But at the end of his ordeal, God had healed him of his bitterness. Then he said: “You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counselThe counsel (purpose) of God is his plan. What God plans will happen. There is a counsel of God with his people Israel (Isa 46:10). This counsel has existed since... More without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know” (Job 42:3). The root of bitterness in Job's heart had disappeared.

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More dwell in you richly, in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:12-17).